Major League Baseball is fortunate to have the most successful two-way star playing at the highest level in Shohei Ohtani. He was announced as the 2023 Players Choice Awards American League Outstanding Player.
He was nominated alongside Yandy Díaz (Tampa Bay Rays) and Corey Seager (Texas Rangers) for the honor, but was officially named the winner for the AL.
Ohtani led the league with a 1.066 on-base plus slugging, notching 44 home runs, 95 RBI, 20 steals and posting a career-best .304 batting average. On the mound, he went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, with 167 strikeouts over 23 starts.
Another unworldly season for the @Angels unicorn 🦄 Shohei Ohtani recorded 44 home runs, 95 RBIs, and 78 extra base hits, and led the majors in slugging (.654), OPS (1.066) and bWAR (10.0). Congrats, Shohei, on being named 2023 #PlayersChoiceAwards AL Outstanding Player! pic.twitter.com/XhV2FkySO0
— MLBPA (@MLBPA) November 2, 2023
Because of his ability to hit and pitch, his stranglehold on the league-lead in combined WAR will be his spot to lose. He’s currently projected to be the winner of the 2023 AL Most Valuable Player, which would be the second of his career after unanimously taking home the honor in 2021.
Shohei Ohtani named Silver Slugger finalist
Ohtani is on track to win his second career AL MVP, and was a Silver Slugger Award under his belt, and he became the first Japanese player to lead his league in home runs.
Ohtani is nominated at designated hitter and is the likely favorite to win. The two-way star was limited down the stretch with injuries, but he looks to have enough to edge out Yordan Alvarez, who put up a very solid season with the Houston Astros.
From established stars with several Silver Slugger trophies on their shelves to rising rookies who are seeking their first, here’s a look at the finalists for the award at each position in 2023. Winners will be announced on MLB Network at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 9.
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