Venezuelan Ronald Acuña Jr. Among Finalists for National League Most Valuable Player
Venezuelan Ronald Acuña Jr. is among the finalists for the National League Most Valuable Player, in a tight race with two strong contenders.
The finalists for the American League and National League for each of these awards, representing the top three finishers, were revealed live on MLB Network on Monday night.
The winners will be announced next week on MLB Network, on the following days at 6 p.m. ET.
Ronald Acuña Jr.’s numbers are clear, marking one of the best seasons in Major League history. Acuña Jr. led the National League in WAR (8.3), hits (217), runs (149), steals (73), OBP (.417), Total Bases (383), and OPS (1.012). He ranked second in batting average (.337), fourth in home runs (41), sixth in runs batted in (106), and eleventh in doubles (35).
The Venezuelan set modern records for runs and steals for the Atlanta Braves and is the first player in history with 40 home runs and 70 steals in a season, the first since Joe DiMaggio in 1937 to combine 200 hits, 100 RBIs, 145 runs, and 40 home runs in a single season.
Acuña’s competitors are Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
It won’t be easy for the Venezuelan, despite his impressive statistics.
In the American League, there is Shohei Ohtani, who won the AL MVP in 2021 and finished second in 2022. He led the MLB with 10.0 WAR, batting .304 with 44 home runs and 20 stolen bases, and had a record of 10-5, with an ERA of 3.14 and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings as a starting pitcher, in his last season with the Los Angeles Angels.
Below are the three finalists for each of the awards in each league.
NATIONAL LEAGUE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Ronald Acuña Jr. (Braves)
Mookie Betts (Dodgers)
Freddie Freeman (Dodgers)
AMERICAN LEAGUE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Shohei Ohtani (Angels)
Corey Seager (Rangers)
Marcus Semien (Rangers)
NATIONAL LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Corbin Carroll (D-backs)
James Outman (Dodgers)
Kodai Senga (Mets)
NATIONAL LEAGUE CY YOUNG
Zac Gallen (D-backs)
Blake Snell (Padres)
Logan Webb (Giants)
AMERICAN LEAGUE MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Bruce Bochy (Rangers)
Kevin Cash (Rays)
Brandon Hyde (Orioles)
AMERICAN LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Tanner Bibee (Guardians)
Triston Casas (Red Sox)
Gunnar Henderson (Orioles)
NATIONAL LEAGUE MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Craig Counsell (Brewers)
Skip Schumaker (Marlins)
Brian Snitker (Braves)
AMERICAN LEAGUE CY YOUNG
Gerrit Cole (Yankees)
Kevin Gausman (Blue Jays)
Sonny Gray (Twins)
