Champions
Major League Baseball
Other champions Minor League Baseball AAA Championship: Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals) International League: Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays) Pacific Coast League: Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals) Mexican League: Leones de Yucatán (first season) Sultanes de Monterrey (second season) AA Eastern League; New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays) Southern League: Jackson Generals (Arizona Diamondbacks) Texas League: Tulsa Drillers (Los Angeles Dodgers) High A California League: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Los Angeles Dodgers) Carolina League: Buies Creek Astros (Houston Astros) Florida State League: Fort Myers Miracle (Minnesota Twins) A Midwest League: Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays) South Atlantic League: Lexington Legends (Kansas City Royals) Short Season A New York–Penn League: Tri-City ValleyCats (Houston Astros) Northwest League: Eugene Emeralds (Chicago Cubs) Advanced Rookie Appalachian League: Elizabethton Twins (Minnesota Twins) Pioneer League: Great Falls Voyagers (Chicago White Sox) Rookie Arizona League: AZL Dodgers (Los Angeles Dodgers) Dominican Summer League: DSL Rays 1 (Tampa Bay Rays) Gulf Coast League: GCL Tigers West (Detroit Tigers) Arizona Fall League: Peoria Javelinas Independent baseball leagues American Association: Kansas City T-Bones Atlantic League: Sugar Land Skeeters Can-Am League: Sussex County Miners Empire League: Puerto Rico Islanders Frontier League: Joliet Slammers Pacific Association: San Rafael Pacifics Pecos League: Bakersfield Train Robbers United Shore League: Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers Amateur College College World Series: Oregon State NCAA Division II: Augustana NCAA Division III: University of Texas at Tyler NAIA: Southeastern Junior College Baseball World Series: Chipola College Cape Cod League: Wareham Gatemen Youth Intermediate League World Series: West Seoul Little League (Seoul, South Korea) Junior League World Series: Shing-Ming Junior Little League (Taoyuan, Chinese Taipei) Little League World Series: Honolulu Little League (Honolulu, Hawaii) Senior League World Series: Pariba Little League (Willemstad, Curacao)
International competition National Teams Asian Games: South Korea U-15 Baseball World Cup: USA U-23 Baseball World Cup: Mexico Central American and Caribbean Games: Puerto Rico Haarlem Baseball Week: Japan Super 6 Tournament: Netherlands Women's Baseball World Cup: Japan World University Baseball Championship: Japan International club team competitions Caribbean Series: Criollos de Caguas European Cup: Curaçao Neptunus Latin American Series: Tigres de Chinandega Domestic Summer Leagues British League: London Mets Dutch Baseball League: Curaçao Neptunus French League: Huskies de Rouen Finnish Baseball Championship: Helsinki Mets German League: Bonn Capitals Irish Baseball League: Dublin City Hurricanes Italian Baseball League: UnipolSai Bologna Japan Series: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Pacific League: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Central League: Hiroshima Toyo Carp Korean Series: SK Wyverns Spanish League: Tenerife Marlins Swedish League: Leksand Lumberjacks Taiwan Series: Lamigo Monkeys Domestic Winter Leagues Australian Baseball League: Brisbane Bandits Colombian League: Leones de Montería Cuban National Series: Alazanes de Granma Dominican League: Águilas Cibaeñas Mexican Pacific League: Tomateros de Culiacán Nicaraguan League: Tigres de Chinandega Panamanian League: Caballos de Coclé Puerto Rican League: Criollos de Caguas Venezuelan League: Caribes de Anzoátegui
Awards and honors
Major League Baseball Baseball Hall of Fame honors
Major Awards MVP Award American League: Mookie Betts (BOS) National League: Christian Yelich (MIL) Cy Young Award American League: Blake Snell (TB) National League: Jacob deGrom (NYM) Manager of the Year Award American League: Bob Melvin (OAK) National League: Brian Snitker (ATL) Rookie of the Year Award American League: Shohei Ohtani (LAA) National League: Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL) Postseason awards World Series MVP: Steve Pearce (BOS) League Championship Series MVP American League: Jackie Bradley Jr. (BOS) National League: Cody Bellinger (LAD) Babe Ruth Award: David Price (BOS) Regular season awards All-Star Game MVP: Alex Bregman (HOU) Comeback Player of the Year Award American League: David Price (BOS) National League: Jonny Venters (ATL) Reliever of the Year Award American League: Edwin Díaz (SEA) National League: Josh Hader (MIL) Edgar Martínez Award: Khris Davis (OAK) Hank Aaron Award American League: J. D. Martinez (BOS) National League: Christian Yelich (MIL)
Luis Aparicio Award Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL) Jesús Aguilar (MIL) Roberto Clemente Award: Yadier Molina (STL) Others Ford C. Frick Award: Bob Costas (Sportscaster) J. G. Taylor Spink Award: Jayson Stark (Sportswriter) Roy Campanella Award: Chase Utley (LAD)
Warren Spahn Award: Blake Snell (TB) Willie Mac Award: Will Smith (SF)
Baseball America awards MLB Player of the Year: Mike Trout (LAA) MLB Rookie of the Year: Shohei Ohtani (LAA) MLB Manager of the Year: Bob Melvin (OAK) MLB Executive of the Year: Dave Dombrowski (BOS) MLB Organization of the Year: Milwaukee Brewers MiLB Player of the Year Award: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (New Hampshire / Buffalo [TOR]) MiLB Team of the Year Award: Bowling Green (Midwest [TB])
Baseball Digest Awards Player of the Year Award: Mookie Betts (BOS) Pitcher of the Year Award: Jacob deGrom (NYM) Sporting News awards Player of the Year Award: Mookie Betts (BOS) Starting pitcher of the Year Award American League: Chris Sale (BOS) National League: Jacob deGrom (NYM) Relief pitcher of the Year Award American League: Edwin Díaz (SEA) National League: Josh Hader (MIL) Rookie of the Year Award American League: Miguel Andújar (NYY) National League: Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL) Comeback Player of the Year Award American League: David Price (BOS) National League: Matt Kemp (LAD) Manager of the Year Award American League: Bob Melvin (OAK) National League: Craig Counsell (MIL) / Brian Snitker (ATL)
Players Choice Awards Outstanding Players American League: Mookie Betts (BOS) National League: Christian Yelich (MIL) Outstanding Pitchers American League: Blake Snell (TB) National League: Jacob deGrom (NYM) Outstanding Rookies American League: Miguel Andújar (NYY) National League: Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL) Comeback Players of the Year American League: Michael Brantley (CLE) National League: Matt Kemp (LAD) Choice Man of the Year: Curtis Granderson (TOR/MIL) Choice Player of the Year: J. D. Martinez (BOS) Silver Slugger Awards American League National LeaguePlayer Team Position Player Team José Abreu (CWS) First baseman Paul Goldschmidt (AZ) Jose Altuve (HOU) Second baseman Javier Báez (CHC) José Ramírez (CLE) Third baseman Nolan Arenado (COL) Francisco Lindor (CLE) Shortstop Trevor Story (COL) Mookie Betts (BOS) Outfielder Nick Markakis (ATL) J. D. Martinez (BOS) Outfielder David Peralta (AZ) Mike Trout (LAA) Outfielder Christian Yelich (MIL) Salvador Pérez (KC) Catcher J. T. Realmuto (MIA) J. D. Martinez (BOS) Germán Márquez (COL)
Gold Glove Awards American League National LeaguePlayer Team Position Player Team Dallas Keuchel (HOU) Pitcher Zack Greinke (AZ) Salvador Pérez (KC) Catcher Yadier Molina (STL) Matt Olson (OAK) First baseman Freddie Freeman Anthony Rizzo (ATL)(CHC) Ian Kinsler (LAA/BOS) Second baseman DJ LeMahieu (COL) Matt Chapman * (OAK) Third baseman Nolan Arenado (COL) Andrelton Simmons (LAA) Shortstop Nick Ahmed (AZ) Alex Gordon (KC) Left fielder Corey Dickerson (PIT) Jackie Bradley Jr. (BOS) Center fielder Ender Inciarte (ATL) Mookie Betts (BOS) Right fielder Nick Markakis (ATL) * Platinum Glove Award Winner Sources: 2018 MLB Awards
Minor League Baseball International League MVP : Joey Meneses (Lehigh Valley IronPigs [PHI]) Pacific Coast League MVP : Josh Fuentes (Albuquerque Isotopes [COL]) Eastern League MVP : Cavan Biggio (New Hampshire Fisher Cats [TOR]) Southern League MVP : Corey Ray (Biloxi Shuckers [MIL]) Texas League Player of the Year : Joey Curletta (Arkansas Travelers [SEA]) Texas League Pitcher of the Year : Logan Allen (San Antonio Missions [SD]) Joe Bauman Home Run Award : A. J. Reed (Fresno Grizzlies [HOU]) All-Star Futures Game : Larry Doby Award – Taylor Trammell (Daytona Tortugas [CIN]) Arizona Fall League : Joe Black Award: Keston Hiura (Peoria Javelinas [SEA]) Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award: Cole Tucker (Surprise Saguaros [PIT]) USA Today MiLB Player of the Year : Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (New Hampshire / Buffalo [TOR])
Events
January January 12 – The Chicago Cubs and Kris Bryant avoid salary arbitration, agreeing to a $10.85 million salary for the 2018 season, setting a new record for a first-time arbitration eligible player.Kris Bryant sets arbitration record . Chicago Tribune. Retrieved on January 12, 2018. January 24 – Chipper Jones, Vladimir Guerrero, Jim Thome, and Trevor Hoffman are elected into the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.Hall of Fame adds four: Chipper Jones, Jim Thome, Vladimir Guerrero, Trevor Hoffman. Sports Yahoo. Retrieved on January 24, 2018. January 31 – Mookie Betts prevailed in his arbitration case against the Boston Red Sox, as he will earn $10.5 million in 2018, the largest salary won in a hearing by a first-year arbitration-eligible player.Mookie Betts Wins Arbitration Case Over Red Sox. MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved on February 1, 2018.
February February 23 – Spring training begins for all 30 Major League Baseball clubs in the warm climates of Florida and Arizona. Of the 30 teams, 15 spend spring training in Florida while the other 15 do it in Arizona.Why MLB teams go to Arizona, Florida for spring training. AccuWeather website. Retrieved on February 23, 2018.
March March 6 – The Arizona Diamondbacks announced the introduction of a bullpen car, the first in MLB since 1995. March 15- Augie Garrido the all-time winningest head coach in NCAA baseball history dies at the age of 79 in Garrido's 47 year coaching career he retired as the all-time winningest head coach in college baseball history with 1,975 career victories. March 29 – The Major League Baseball regular season began with Chicago Cubs and the Miami Marlins playing at Marlins Park. In the game, the Cubs' Ian Happ hit a home run on the first pitch of the season, off the Marlins' José Ureña as the Cubs defeated Miami 8–4. Happ became the first player since Dwight Evans in to hit a home run on the first pitch of a regular season.Chicago Cubs leadoff hitter Ian Happ gets home run first bat season. ESPN. Retrieved on March 29, 2018.
April
April 5- Prior to the Twins-Mariners game at Target Field, Seattle Mariners pitcher James Paxton is attacked by a bald eagle during the national anthem. April 8 – New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton strikes out five times in an 8–7 loss against the Baltimore Orioles. Coupled with an earlier five strike-out game on April 3 against the same Orioles, Stanton becomes the first major leaguer ever to accomplish the dubious feat twice in a season and the second after Alex Rios to do so in a career.Giancarlo Stanton's Whiffs Make the Record Books. New York Times. Retrieved on August 7, 2018. April 10 – Roberto Osuna of the Toronto Blue Jays became the youngest pitcher to record his 100th career save at age 23, surpassing Francisco Rodriguez to reach that milestone mark.Roberto Osuna is the youngest closer to notch 100 saves, can he reach the heights of Mariano Rivera?. MLB.com. Retrieved on August 7, 2018. April 12 – Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins recorded his 2,000th career hit against the Chicago White Sox, becoming the 287th player in major league history to reach that mark.Mauer reaches 2,000-hit milestone with single. MLB.com. Retrieved on August 7, 2018.