Making their case: AL MVP edition
The 2023 season saw many historic offensive performances after implementing new rules that favored the hitter not only in the batter's box, but also on the basepaths, and it made for heavily contested award races down the stretch.
With the finalists for the 2023 American League Most Valuable Player now set, let's take a look at each player's case for the award.
Shohei Ohtani, designated hitter/pitcher, Los Angeles Angels
2023 stats: .304/.412/.654, 44 HR, 95 RBI, 102 R, 20 SB in 135 games played as a hitter and a 10-5, 3.14 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 167 SO in 132 innings pitched
With one AL MVP Award under his belt already, Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani put up another monster season in 2023. Despite missing 27 games, he led the AL in numerous categories including home runs with 44 and total bases with 325.
Then you include the fact that he also made 23 starts for the Angels on the mound with a 3.14 ERA, which if qualified would have been good for seventh-best in the MLB. One of the best strikeout artists on the mound, his 11.39 K/9 would have been good for fifth-best in all of baseball as well.
Despite having his season shortened by injury and the fact that the Angels were out of the playoff picture, Ohtani should bring home AL MVP No. 2 in 2023 as he heads into free agency.
Corey Seager, shortstop, Texas Rangers
2023 stats: .327/.390/.623, 33 HR, 96 RBI, 88 R in 119 games played
One of the most talented hitters in baseball, the biggest enemy of Rangers shortstop Corey Seager has been his health.
Limited to only 119 games in 2023, the 29-year-old still put up huge numbers that led to him being a finalist for the award. His 42 doubles were good enough for second place in baseball, only trailing the historic 59 doubles hit by Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman.
A finalist for the Gold Glove at shortstop, Seager helped form one of the best double-play duos in baseball with teammate and fellow MVP finalist Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien.
In what will go down as one of the best seasons by a shortstop in the history of the MLB, he will likely fall short in AL MVP voting, but he should be fine with how his season turned out.
Marcus Semien, second base, Texas Rangers
2023 stats: .276/.348/.478, 29 HR, 100 RBI, 122 R, 14 SB in 162 games played
A finalist for the AL MVP Award for the third time since 2019, the Texas Rangers second baseman is one of baseball's most under-the-radar superstars.
Leading the AL in hits with 185 and runs scored with 122 in 2023, the 33-year-old was the table-setter for the most potent offense in the AL that scored 881 runs on the season.
With Seager often hitting right behind him, they formed one of the best 1-2 punches atop the lineup while also playing Gold Glove-caliber defense.
With only eight games missed in the past five seasons, not only is Semien available every day, but he also produces at a high level and continued that in 2023.
Playing every single game for manager Bruce Bochy, Semien has become the closest thing to an ironman that we have in the game today.
The AL MVP award will be announced live on MLB Network at 6 p.m. ET on Nov. 16.
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