The 2023 American League MVP race appears to be all but over. Shohei Ohtani has exhibited why he is a generational talent. His immense production for the Angels continues to impress despite the team’s season not meeting expectations. With the injury to Mike Trout, much uncertainty surrounds the Halos. Shohei could very well be on the move before the trade deadline. Being dealt to an NL team is the only likely scenario where Ohtani is not crowned the 2023 AL MVP. However, the rest of the field remains in contention, but they have an uphill battle ahead of them. Can someone catch Ohtani?
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(Note: all statistics are through July 9)
2023 AL MVP Favorites
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
Ohtani currently leads the league with 32 HR, a .663 SLUG %, and a 1.05 OPS. His .302 AVG is sixth best, with 71 RBI and 63 runs ranking second and third, respectively. These are just the offensive numbers. Ohtani also has a 7-4 record on the mound, with 100.1 IP, a 3.32 ERA, and ranks third in strikeouts with 132. If he continues to produce at this level, the MVP voting will be a landslide, regardless of the team Ohtani plays for.
Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox
The Southside slugger has battled back this year from an injury-laden 2022 campaign and was named a 2023 All-Star. Robert ranks second with 26 HR and a .569 SLUG %. He ranks third with a .899 OPS and fourth with 62 runs. Robert has a solid .271 batting average, and his production this year has been a bright spot for an otherwise dismal White Sox season. If he can stay healthy and keep up this pace, he has a legitimate chance at a 40-home-run season and an outside shot at the AL MVP.
Adolis García, Texas Rangers
The Texas outfielder’s power has been on display all year. García leads a Rangers’ offense looking to make a postseason run for the first time since 2016. His 23 HR and .517 SLUG % are currently third-best in the AL. He leads the league with 75 RBI and ranks second with 69 runs. His .261 average may be detrimental to winning the MVP, but another half of the season is still to be played. If Texas is atop the AL West at the end of the year, an MVP case could be made for the 30-year-old.
Yandy Díaz, Tampa Bay Rays
Díaz typically leads off for arguably the best team in the AL. He leads the league with a .323 batting average and ranks second with a .408 OBP and a .923 OPS. Díaz may not have the power that other candidates do, but he does his job well by getting on base as a lead-off man. He ranks seventh in runs scored with 58. Díaz also has 43 RBI on the year, not expected out of the top of the order. If he hopes to bring home the MVP for the AL, he will need to stay healthy, as he has only played in 78 of Tampa Bays 93 games.
Honorable mentions: Bo Bichette, Wander Franco, Randy Arozarena, Marcus Semien
Photo Credit: © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Players mentioned:
Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, Luis Robert Jr., Adolis García, Yandy Díaz, Bo Bichette, Wander Franco, Randy Arozarena, Marcus Semien
