Even though it didn't end in a World Series championship (or even an appearance), it's hard to complain about Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr's 2023 season. The likely National League Most Valuable Player for 2023, Ronald led all of baseball in hits, runs, on-base percentage, total bases, and stolen bases, while additionally leading the National League plate appearances, at-bats, and OPS. He came in 2nd in overall WAR to Mookie Betts. Most notably, he logged only the 5th 40/40 season in baseball history, picking up 41 home runs and 73 stolen bases. His stolen base number was by and far the highest for any 40/40 season, with the previous high being Alex Rodriguez's 46 steals in 1998. He not only was a starter for the All-Star Game, he received the highest vote total in all of MLB.
.337/.416/.596 with 41 homers, 149 runs scored, 106 RBIs, and 73 stolen bases.
Shohei Ohtani was awe-inspiring for the Angels in becoming the first player win the AL MVP Award by a unanimous vote twice. He led MLB in slugging (.654), OPS (1.066) and wRC+ (180). His 44 HRs in only 135 games were the most in the AL. On the mound, Ohtani recorded a .184 opponents’ batting average, a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings.
A two-time Cy Young Award runner-up, Yankees ace Gerrit Cole earned the hardware in 2023 after leading the AL in ERA (2.63), innings (209) and opponents’ batting average (.206). Cole allowed four earned runs over his final five starts, spanning 35 innings and capped his year with a two-hit shutout.
Batters mustered a paltry .181/.293/.286 slash line against the Padres' Blake Snell, who won the Cy Young for the second time in his career. His 12 scoreless starts tied for the most by a qualified starting pitcher since 1969. Snell racked up 234 K’s, and his 31.5% strikeout rate ranked second in the Majors.
Gunnar Henderson was a dynamic defender at two infield positions while providing extra-base impact at the plate in earning the AL Rookie of the Year Award. He led both the Orioles and all AL rookies in bWAR (6.2) and fWAR (4.6) while hitting 28 HRs, nine triples, 82 RBIs and scoring 100 runs.
Corbin Carroll's 25 homers and 54 steals made him the first 25-50 rookie in MLB history en route to leading the D-backs to the World Series and becoming Arizona’s first NL Rookie of the Year Award winner in a unanimous vote.
American League -C: Jonah Heim (Rangers) 1B: Nathaniel Lowe (Rangers) 2B: Andrés Giménez (Guardians) 3B: Matt Chapman (Blue Jays) SS: Anthony Volpe (Yankees) LF: Steven Kwan (Guardians) CF: Kevin Kiermaier (Blue Jays) RF: Adolis García (Rangers) P: José Berríos (Blue Jays) UT: Mauricio Dubón (Astros)
National League - C: Gabriel Moreno (D-backs) 1B: Christian Walker (D-backs) 2B: Nico Hoerner (Cubs) 3B: Ke'Bryan Hayes (Pirates) SS: Dansby Swanson (Cubs) LF: Ian Happ (Cubs) CF: Brenton Doyle (Rockies) RF: Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres) P: Zack Wheeler (Phillies) UT: Ha-Seong Kim (Padres)
American League - C: Adley Rutschman (Orioles) 1B: Yandy Díaz (Rays) 2B: Marcus Semien (Rangers) 3B: Rafael Devers (Red Sox) SS: Corey Seager (Rangers) OF: Luis Robert Jr. (White Sox) OF: Julio Rodríguez (Mariners) OF: Kyle Tucker (Astros) DH: Shohei Ohtani (Angels) UT: Gunnar Henderson (Orioles) Team: Rangers
National League - C: William Contreras (Brewers) 1B: Matt Olson (Braves) 2B: Luis Arraez (Marlins) 3B: Austin Riley (Braves) SS: Francisco Lindor (Mets) OF: Ronald Acuña Jr. (Braves) OF: Mookie Betts (Dodgers) OF: Juan Soto (Padres) DH: Bryce Harper (Phillies) UT: Cody Bellinger (Cubs) Team: Braves
Five months after a Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis, Liam Hendriks was back on the mound, a remarkable story of perseverance that earned the White Sox reliever the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award.
The NL winner, Cody Bellinger, regained his MVP-caliber form after back-to-back subpar seasons that saw him non-tendered before the Cubs signed him for 2023.