When it comes to the opinions of fellow MLB players, Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr and Los Angeles Angeles two-way monster Shohei Ohtani were without a doubt the top two players in the league in 2023.
While the Los Angeles Angels had another losing season this year, when Shohei Ohtani was on the field, they were in the thick of the race for a playoff spot. Unfortunately, he missed most of the final month with a tear in the UCL joint of his pitching arm, and that was essentially when they threw up the white flag on their 2023 campaign.
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However, despite missing a notable amount of games this season, his dominance as a hitter and pitcher was so spectacular at times that fellow MLB players still felt he was the best competitor in the American League this season.
On Thursday night, the MLB Players Association revealed this year’s edition of the Players Choice Awards, and the Japanese star’s .304 average, 44 homers, 95 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases on offense, matched with his 10-5 record, 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings was more than enough to win him AL honors this season.
Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. the Players Choice winner for NL Player of the Year
In the National League, Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. was an easy choice for NL Player of the Year honors after an absolutely mind-blowing performance leading a powerful Braves offense this year.
The four-time All-Star posted career-best numbers in many major stats in 2023. Including average (.337), OBP (.416), OPS (1.012), HRs (41), RBIs (106), doubles (35), runs (149), and maybe best of all an unbelievable 73 stolen base. Which was more than double his previous best of 37 in 2019.
Acuña Jr. was a massive part of a Braves team that won 104 games and ran away with the NL East title this year. Unfortunately, they fell in the Division Round of last month’s MLB Playoffs to rivals the Philadelphia Phillies for the second year in a row.