Baseball’s brightest stars, Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr., have capped off their dominant 2023 seasons by winning the American League and National League MVP awards. Ohtani, the Los Angeles Angels two-way player, claimed his second MVP award after an outstanding season hitting .304 with 44 home runs and going 10-5 on the mound with a 3.14 ERA. Despite undergoing elbow surgery in September, Ohtani is expected to recover in time to hit in 2024 and pitch in 2025. The 29-year-old is now the top free agent this winter and is projected to sign a massive deal wherever he lands.
Meanwhile, 25-year-old Atlanta Braves right fielder Acuña led MLB in runs, hits, and on-base percentage in 2023, powering the Braves to a 104-58 record, the best in the majors. Acuña’s historic season includes becoming just the third player since 1947 to lead his respective league in stolen bases and OPS, joining Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Rickey Henderson on that elite list. He also became the fifth member of baseball’s hallowed 40-40 club, players who recorded at least 40 homers and 40 stolen bases in a season, and even went on to become the sole member of the 40-50, 40-60 and 40-70 clubs.
The baseball world was in awe of Ohtani’s 2021 season, and his 2023 season proved to be even better, solidifying his unanimous MVP win. The MVP title comes amidst Ohtani’s free agency, with many variables still at play regarding which team he will sign with. Acuña’s remarkable comeback after struggling in 2022 with residual soreness in his knee from ACL surgery in 2021 has cemented him as a dynamic leadoff hitter and a true force to be reckoned with in the league.
Both players have proven their value and solidified their status as two of the most dynamic and impactful players in the game, with an exciting future ahead for both of them as they continue to make waves in MLB.