Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider secured the second position in the American League Manager of the Year voting conducted by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, finishing behind Cleveland's Stephen Vogt. This recognition comes after Schneider led the Blue Jays to an impressive 94-win season and clinching the American League East Division title.
The voting results revealed that Schneider obtained 10 of 30 first-place votes and amassed a total of 91 points overall. In contrast, Vogt, who piloted the Guardians to the AL Central championship, received 17 first-place votes and a total of 113 points. Dan Wilson, manager of the Seattle Mariners, was also a finalist, gathering two first-place votes and 50 points.
This marks the second consecutive year that Vogt has been honored with this award, while Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy also repeated his success in the National League category. Schneider’s runner-up finish is particularly notable as it represents the highest placement for a Toronto manager since Cito Gaston came in second behind Baltimore's Frank Robinson in 1989.
Schneider took the reins as the Blue Jays manager in July 2022 after succeeding Charlie Montoyo. His leadership saw the team significantly bounce back from a disappointing last-place finish in 2024—improving by 20 games. Under Schneider, the Blue Jays not only secured the division title but also advanced through two playoff rounds before ultimately falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. It is important to note that the voting ballots were submitted prior to the commencement of the postseason.
Bobby Cox remains the only manager in Blue Jays history to win the Manager of the Year award, achieving this accolade back in 1985. Following the recent accolade, Schneider had the option year of his contract for 2026 exercised, indicating the franchise’s confidence in his abilities. General manager Ross Atkins communicated last week during a season-ending press conference that talks for an extension were already underway.
Atkins praised Schneider, stating, "He is a clear leader in this organization who is really, really good at his job, and I’m very proud to be working with him." Schneider, aged 45 and originally from Princeton, New Jersey, began his career with the Blue Jays after being drafted in the 13th round of the 2002 MLB draft and played until 2007. After retiring, he transitioned into coaching, starting as a catching instructor and later becoming the manager of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Blue Jays in 2008.
Over the next decade, Schneider climbed the ranks within the Blue Jays’ minor league system. He took charge of the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats in 2018 and received recognition as the Eastern League Manager of the Year after leading the team to a championship. Before joining the major leagues, Schneider was promoted to the Blue Jays' major-league coaching staff as a catching instructor ahead of the 2019 season and took on the role of bench coach in 2022.
Schneider is the 14th manager in the history of the Toronto Blue Jays since the franchise’s establishment in 1977. His tenure has ushered in a period of revival for the team, marked by significant improvements in performance and competitiveness.
