The 2023 AL MVP race is all but over, as the rest of the season seems just a formality now. Shohei Ohtani has ended the debate. The only likely scenario that would have kept Ohtani from not winning the AL MVP was a trade to a National League team, and that deadline has passed. The only downside for Ohtani in this situation is his win will be one of those instances where the MVP plays for a team that misses the playoffs. The Angels are currently at .500 on the year and in fourth place in the AL West. Despite Ohtani’s apparent victory, for the sake of argument, who are the other top candidates? Although these sluggers are miles behind Ohtani in the race, they deserve consideration.
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
Shohei Ohtaniis the reason the AL MVP race is all but over. He ranks in the top six of all Triple Crown categories, not just in hitting but also in pitching. On offense, Ohtani leads the AL in WAR, OBP, SLUG, OPS, triples, total bases, home runs, walks, and extra-base hits. His slash line is .306/.410/.666, with an OPS of 1.076. Ohtani has 40 home runs, seven triples, and has driven in 83 RBI. He has drawn 74 walks, taken 283 total bases, and his offensive WAR is 5.5. Ohtani is 10-5 on the mound with a 3.17 ERA in 130.2 innings pitched. He has struck out 165 batters, good for third in the AL, and leads the league with a 5.9 H/9. Ohtani’s production has been legendary, and he shows no sign of slowing down.
Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros
Staying in the AL West, Kyle Tucker is putting together a career year. The Houston slugger is leading the Astros toward the postseason in hopes of another World Series appearance. Tucker ranks in the top 10 of many AL offensive categories, including batting average, OBP, SLUG, OPS, home runs, RBI, stolen bases, walks, and doubles. The 26-year-old outfielder is batting .296/.378/.514 with 21 home runs, 84 RBI, 28 doubles, and 24 stolen bases. He was named to his second All-Star game this year as well.
Corey Seager, Texas Rangers
Oddly, if it were not for Ohtani, the AL MVP would still come out of the West this year, be it Tucker or Corey Seager. Despite battling numerous injuries with multiple stints on the IL, the Seager is having a phenomenal year. The Texas slugger is batting .353 with 19 home runs, 66 RBI, and 54 runs in only 72 games. His .353 batting average and .412 OBP led the AL in players with more than 300 plate appearances. Seager’s 31 doubles still rank fourth in the AL despite playing in significantly fewer games than the three ahead of him. The Rangers need Seager to stay healthy through the end of the year and hopefully into October, as they’ve gone all-in for 2023.
Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox
Luis Robert Jr remains the lone bright spot for the White Sox. The 26-year-old Cuban continues to produce despite Chicago’s overall dismal season. Robert is only batting .271, but his .563 SLUG, 31 home runs, 62 extra-base hits, and 241 total bases all rank second in the AL. His 74 runs scored fourth, and Robert’s 30 doubles and 4.7 WAR are good enough for fifth best in the league. Hopefully, for Robert’s sake, the White Sox can build upon his season in the years to come.
Honorable Mentions:
Marcus Semien, Wander Franco, Randy Arozarena, Bo Bichette, Adley Rutschman
Main Photo Credits: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned: Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, Corey Seager, Luis Robert Jr., Marcus Semien, Wander Franco, Randy Arozarena,
