Los Angeles Angels two-way player Shohei Ohtani and Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr., two of baseball’s brightest stars, capped their dominant 2023 seasons by winning American League MVP awards and the National League on Thursday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Ohtani picked up his second MVP award after winning one in 2021. He hit .304 with 44 home runs in 2023 and went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA on the mound.
- Ohtani underwent elbow surgery in September and is expected to recover in time to play in 2024 and play in 2025. Despite his limitations, the 29-year-old is the top free agent this winter and is expected to sign a huge contract wherever he ends up.
- Acuña led MLB in runs (149), hits (217) and on-base percentage (.416) in 2023. The 25-year-old helped the Braves to a 104-58 record, the best in the majors.
Why Ohtani won
The baseball world was in awe of Ohtani’s 2021 season. It was his breakout year that made everyone realize how special he was. There was no doubt that he would be the unanimous MVP winner in November. But his 2023 was even better. (His 2022 season was too). However, this year’s results are clear. He had a higher OPS+ and ERA+ this year. His OPS was 1.066 and his WHIP was 1.061.
Corey Seager had an incredible year. But he played in fewer games and had a lower OPS than Ohtani. He surpassed Ohtani in offensive WAR, but remarkably didn’t beat Seager as well. This is just as obvious as 2021, even if it didn’t feel like it. —Sam Blum, Angels staff writer
What’s next for Ohtani?
This MVP title comes against the backdrop of Ohtani’s free agency. He is currently eligible to sign anywhere and much remains a mystery. He hasn’t answered questions since Aug. 9 after his start against the Giants. His agent, who usually speaks to reporters at GM meetings, declined to do so this year. His elbow surgery in September could have a long-term impact on his pitching future and possibly his hitting ability early next season. Any team would pay for possibly the greatest baseball player of all time. But even with that proven track record, there are still so many variables at play when it comes to where Ohtani will report this spring – both in terms of his health and the contract he’s willing/able to sign. Its value remains astronomical, but its current situation is very unconventional. – Flower
Examining Acuña’s historic season
To put it simply, Acuña had one of the best seasons of any hitter in major league history. He hit .337 with 41 home runs, 106 RBIs, a majors-leading 73 stolen bases and an NL-leading 1.012 OPS, becoming only the third player since 1947 to lead his respective league in stolen bases and OPS. Hall of Famers included Willie Mays, who made it twice between 1957 and 1958, and Rickey Henderson in 1990 on this list. There is a widespread belief in baseball that Acuña is the most dynamic leadoff hitter since Henderson.
It would be understating Acuña’s achievement in 2023 to point out that he became the fifth member of baseball’s hallowed 40-40 club, players who recorded at least 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season. Before it was over, Acuña was the only member of the 40-50, 40-60 and 40-70 clubs. No one else in the 40-40 club had more than 46 steals.
GO DEEPER
Acuña Jr. goes first in the MLB’s 40-70 club
And going into the season, there were still questions about what version of Acuña the Braves might expect after he struggled for much of 2022 with residual right knee pain from ACL surgery in 2021, when he was elevated to MVP honors – Caliber start. It didn’t take long for those questions to be answered in a resounding way this spring.
Acuña was the NL Player of the Month for April after batting .352 with four home runs, 13 stolen bases and a .986 OPS in every inning of all 27 Braves games. After that torrid first month, he never cooled down, winning NL Player of the Month honors two more times and finishing the season with career highs in most major categories, including OBP, runs, hits (217), doubles (35). ) and walks (80) and games played (159), in addition to average, OPS, RBIs and steals. Meanwhile, his 84 strikeouts were by far the fewest in a full season. — David O’Brien, Braves beat writer
GO DEEPER
Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. is named MLB Player of the Year at the Players Choice Awards
Required reading
(Photos: Nick Turchiaro and Amber Searls / USA Today)