Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider came in second place in the American League manager of the year voting conducted by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, falling behind Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt. Schneider led the Blue Jays to an impressive 94-win season and secured the American League East Division title. In the voting results revealed on Tuesday, Schneider garnered 10 first-place votes out of 30 and accumulated a total of 91 points.
Vogt, who guided the Guardians to victory in the AL Central, received 17 first-place votes and 113 points. Dan Wilson from the Seattle Mariners was also a finalist, receiving two first-place votes and 50 points.
This marks the second consecutive year that Vogt has been honored with this award. Additionally, Pat Murphy, the skipper of the Milwaukee Brewers, retained his title as the National League award winner.
Under Schneider’s leadership, the Blue Jays significantly improved their performance this season, winning 20 more games compared to their last-place finish in 2024. The team advanced through two playoff rounds before ultimately losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
Notably, the voting ballots were submitted before the start of the post-season. Bobby Cox remains the only Blue Jays manager to have previously won this prestigious award back in 1985.
Schneider’s second-place finish marks the highest ranking for a Toronto manager since Cito Gaston placed second in 1989 behind Frank Robinson of the Baltimore Orioles. Schneider, who took over as the Blue Jays manager in July 2022 following Charlie Montoyo, had his contract’s 2026 option year activated recently.
Extension discussions are ongoing, with general manager Ross Atkins expressing admiration for Schneider’s leadership qualities and professional expertise during a media briefing at the conclusion of the season.
The 45-year-old Schneider, originally from Princeton, N.J., played a pivotal role in guiding Toronto to the wild-card series in his first managerial season, although the team faced elimination by the Seattle Mariners. Subsequently, the Blue Jays suffered another sweep in the following season by the Minnesota Twins before struggling to a 74-win record in 2024.
However, the team staged a remarkable comeback in 2025, propelled by an improved offense and more consistent pitching, clinching the East title via tiebreaker against New York. The Blue Jays triumphed over the Yankees in the AL Division Series and then defeated the Mariners in the AL Championship Series before narrowly losing to the Dodgers in the World Series.
Schneider has devoted over two decades to the Toronto organization, initially joining as a drafted player in 2002 and retiring after the 2007 season. He later transitioned into a coaching role, serving as a catching instructor before eventually becoming the manager of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Blue Jays in 2008. Progressing steadily through the ranks, Schneider was recognized as the Eastern League manager of the year in 2018 after leading the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats to a championship.
In 2019, Schneider was promoted to the major-league coaching staff to oversee catchers and subsequently elevated to bench coach in 2022. He stands as the 14th manager in the Blue Jays’ history since the franchise’s inception in 1977.
