MLB MVP Awards 2023: Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. Win Honors

The inevitable grew to become actuality on Thursday as Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr. formally took dwelling the American and Nationwide League MVP awards, respectively.

Ohtani received his second AL MVP award in three seasons after incomes the unanimous honor. He grew to become the one participant in MLB historical past to win an MVP award unanimously twice. Ohtani beat out finalists Corey Seager and Marcus Semien of the Texas Rangers.

The prolific two-way participant led all of baseball with a 1.066 OPS whereas pacing the AL with 44 dwelling runs and a .412 OBP. He additionally added 95 RBI, 20 stolen bases and a .304 batting common for the Los Angeles Angels.

On the mound, the 29-year-old went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA (1.06 WHIP) in 23 begins. He additionally struck out 167 batters in 132.0 innings.

Ohtani ended up ending with an MLB-high 10.0 WAR (wins above alternative), per Baseball-Reference. Ohtani additionally led MLB in WAR throughout his final MVP season in 2021.

In between his MVP seasons, Ohtani completed second within the AL MVP voting behind New York Yankees slugger Aaron Decide and fourth within the AL Cy Younger race in 2022.

For a lot of the season, Ohtani seemed to be the clear MVP winner, though Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager had a terrific yr in his personal proper en path to main his workforce to its first-ever World Collection crown. Seager led the American League with 42 doubles regardless of lacking 43 video games (hamstring, proper thumb injuries). He additionally completed with 33 dwelling runs, 96 RBI and a 1.013 OPS.

However Ohtani was the AL’s clear celebrity this yr.

The one query is the place he’ll play transferring ahead given his newfound standing as a free agent.

Like Ohtani, Acuña was a unanimous winner of the award.

In his sixth season with the Atlanta Braves, Acuña grew to become simply the fifth-ever participant to hit 40 dwelling runs and swipe 40 bases in a single season. Nonetheless, he additionally grew to become the lone member of the 40-50, 40-60 after which 40-70 golf equipment as effectively when he completed the yr with 71 stolen bases alongside his 41 dwelling runs (106 RBI).

Acuña led MLB with 149 runs, 217 hits, 73 stolen bases, a .416 OBP and 383 complete bases. His 1.012 OPS paced the NL. Acuña additionally earned his fourth All-Star look and third Silver Slugger award.

Thanks partially to his efforts, the Braves completed with an MLB-high 104 regular-season victories.

That is Acuña’s first-ever MVP award. He beforehand completed prime 12 in 2018, 2019 and 2020, together with a fifth-place end in 2019.

For a lot of the 2023 marketing campaign, this seemed to be a two-player race for MVP between Acuña and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, who led the NL with an 8.3 WAR. Betts was great for the 100-win Dodgers, smacking 39 dwelling runs (107 RBI) to go together with 126 runs, a .307 batting common and .987 OPS.

Betts can be the unquestioned NL MVP in different years, however Acuña’s historic season in the end gave him the nod. Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman was the opposite MVP finalist.

Acuña has additionally loved an amazing comeback after struggling a torn ACL in 2021 that ended his marketing campaign. Acuña was on hearth that season with 24 dwelling runs in simply 82 video games. Two years later, he is gotten again to that peak type after which some.