Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers was nominated for both MLB Player of the Year and National League Outstanding Player, and he only finished in the top three for one of the categories. But Ronald Acuña Jr., the superstar of the Atlanta Braves, won both of those honors.
Players were asked to select the player “whose leadership most inspires others to higher levels of achievement” when casting their votes for Marvin Miller Man of the Year. Four times, Curtis Granderson won the award before retiring following the 2019 season.
Francisco Lindor (2022), Nelson Cruz (2020), Anthony Rizzo (2017), Adam Jones (2015), and Clayton Kershaw (2014) are among the other recent winners.
The honor is given in honor of Marvin Miller, who led the MLBPA’s growth into one of the most powerful and unified labor unions in the nation while serving as its first full-time executive director from 1966 to 1982.
The Curt Flood Award honors him for his groundbreaking legal battle against baseball’s reserve system, which helped establish free agency in the 1970s.
A complete list of winners of the 2023 Players Choice Award
Ronald Acuña Jr., Player of the Year winner
Acuña achieved an even greater feat by concluding the year with 41 home runs and 73 stolen bases, making it the first 40-50 season in MLB history. In addition, he had a 170 wRC+, 35 doubles, 106 RBI, 149 runs scored, and an 8.3 WAR batting average (.337/.416/.596).
With 217 total hits, runs, and stolen bases, the probable 2023 NL MVP also led the Majors. He also had the best on-base percentage (.102) and on-base plus slugging percentage (.218) in the NL.
Ronald Acuña Jr. is the NL Outstanding Player.
As Acuña was named the best player in baseball in 2023, it went without saying that he would also win the NL Outstanding Player award.
Acuña is the only player since Joe DiMaggio in 1937 to accumulate at least 200 hits, 100 RBIs, 145 runs, and 40 home runs in a season. He also set the team record for the Braves’ most stolen bases in a season.
AL’s Most Valuable Player is Shohei Ohtani
With the Los Angeles Angels, Shohei Ohtani enjoyed yet another fantastic season of two-way play that put him in the running for MLB Player of the Year and secured him a spot on the starting designated hitter team for the third time.
In 135 games, he led the majors in slugging (.654), OPS (1.066), and bWAR (10.0). He also had 44 home runs, 95 RBIs, and 78 extra-base hits. He was 10-5 on the mound with a 3.14 ERA, 167 strikeouts in 132 innings, and the second-highest strikeout percentage in the AL at 31.5%.
Blake Snell, NL Outstanding Pitcher
Blake Snell’s 2.25 ERA this season was 0.73 runs lower than the National League’s best, set by rookie Kodai Senga of the New York Mets, who recorded a 2.98.
The left-hander for the San Diego Padres led all qualified pitchers in strikeouts (234), hits allowed (115), and opponent batting average (.180). His output from his 2018 Cy Young season with the Tampa Bay Rays was eclipsed by his strikeout total and 32-game start total.
AL Debutante of the Year: Gerrit Cole
Making his sixth career All-Star squad, Gerrit Cole ended with a 15-4 record and helped the New York Yankees go 23-10 in his 33 outings.
He became the only pitcher for the Yankees to pitch two shutouts in a season in the previous ten years. He recorded the lowest ERA by a qualifying Yankees starter in the previous forty-three years with a 2.63 ERA, making him the 10th Yankees pitcher to claim an AL ERA title.
He was the only starter with a WHIP under 1.0 (0.98), and he led all MLB pitchers in bWAR (7.5) and WPA (4.39).
NL Rookie of the Year: Corbin Carroll
The Arizona Diamondbacks made their first World Series appearance since 2001, thanks in part to Corbin Carroll.
His batting average (.285), on-base percentage (.362), slugging percentage (.506), walks (10), runs (116), stolen bases (54), and on-base percentage (.868) topped the club. He is the first rookie in MLB history to finish a season with more than 50 stolen bases and more than 25 home runs.
Adding Senga to the list of only NL rookies selected for the All-Star team was Carroll.
AL Rookie of the Year: Gunnar Henderson
In addition to setting rookie marks for the Baltimore Orioles with 100 runs scored and a.489 slugging percentage, Gunnar Henderson topped all MLB rookies in bWAR (6.3), home runs (28), and extra base hits (66). In a season, Henderson became the only rookie in Orioles history to record more than 20 doubles, five triples, 20 home runs, and ten stolen bases.
His 13 defensive runs saved as a third baseman and shortstop led the squad. In June, he was named AL Rookie of the Month.
Winner of the NL Comeback: Cody Bellinger
After having difficulty in his final two years with the Dodgers, Cody Bellinger found success with the Chicago Cubs. His 2022 batting average of.210 skyrocketed to a season-long.307, good for a tie for sixth place in the MLB.
His best stats since winning the 2019 National League MVP title are his.356 OBP,.525 slugging percentage, and.881 OPS.
NFL Resurgent: Liam Hendricks
After completing his treatment, Liam Hendriks, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in January, made his emotional comeback to the mound on May 29th against the Angels. Hendriks’ inspirational perseverance was praised by the entire stadium and the baseball community, and in his debut, the 2022 All-Star hit a fastball that reached 96 mph.
Before having season-ending Tommy John surgery, he threw in five games this season for the Chicago White Sox, giving up just one run and one hit in his last four bullpen innings.
Marcus Semien, Marvin Miller Man of the Year
For the third year in a row, Marcus Semien received nominations from his peers for the award and won Marvin Miller Man of the Year this year.
As an Association Player Representative, he is still a dedicated and involved member of the MLBPA’s Executive Subcommittee. As a player for the Texas Rangers, Semien is involved in community service projects that feed the hungry during the holidays and instruct young players in baseball.
Through his involvement with the Players Alliance and Coaching Corps, he is a staunch supporter of more diversity in baseball. In addition, he has won the MLBPAA’s Heart and Hustle Award twice for his team. This award recognizes athletes who have a strong love for the game and who exemplify its traditions, values, and spirit.
Phil Bradley Receives Curt Flood Award
Phil Bradley, who provides daily support for current players as an MLBPA special assistant, is nearing the end of his 25-year tenure. During the turbulent 1980s, he demonstrated a unique ability to defend justice and principles while serving as a union leader.
Bradley was a key player in the 1990 discussions that resulted in an MLB lockout, continuously criticizing the clubs’ attempts to devalue free agency and wage arbitration. Since joining the PA staff in January 1999, he has remained committed to furthering the rights of current and upcoming players.