Upon the acquisition of Freddie Freeman as a free agent by the Dodgers prior to the commencement of the 2022 season, it became evident to the baseball community that Los Angeles would possess a duo of consistently formidable candidates for the Most Valuable Player award at the forefront of their batting order, spanning a minimum duration of six seasons.
In the year 2023, Freeman and Mookie Betts experienced highly successful seasons, showcasing exceptional performance and positioning themselves as strong contenders for securing their second MVP Awards.
The MLB Network unveiled the nominees for each prominent individual accolade on Monday. Both Freeman and Betts, along with Braves standout Ronald Acuña Jr., were declared finalists for the National League Most Valuable Player (NL MVP) award.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have a representative in the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year competition, with James Outman being among the three finalists. The other two contenders are Kodai Senga, a prominent pitcher for the New York Mets, and Corbin Carroll, a standout player for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The recognition of Freeman, Betts, and Outman as finalists for the BBWAA awards is not unexpected. The status of being a finalist ensures that all three participants achieved a placement within the top three positions in the voting process. The announcement of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) recipients is scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 16th. Similarly, the declaration of the winners for the Rookie of the Year accolades is set to occur on Tuesday, November 14th. Both announcements are slated to take place at 3 p.m. Pacific Time on the MLB Network.
Freeman a finalist for NL MVP
Although Acuña had a fantastic season, it is worth noting that both Betts and Freeman both had compelling arguments for the MVP title. Freeman established a new record for the Dodgers’ club by accumulating 59 doubles during the current season, narrowly missing the opportunity to join an exclusive group of only six players in Major League history who have achieved 60 doubles in a single season. In the current season, Freeman achieved the milestone of 2,000 hits and became a member of the 300-homer club. He concluded the season with a total of 29 home runs and 102 runs batted in. The great primary baseman moreover achieved a personal best of 211 hits during his inaugural season of achieving 200 or more hits.
Freddie Freeman’s 59th double
However, of significant importance to Freeman is his leadership in stolen bases, with a total of 23, as well as his impressive batting average of .331. Additionally, he demonstrated his commitment to the team by starting in 161 out of the 162 regular-season games.
Betts a finalist for NL MVP
Regarding Betts, it can be observed that the individual, who has been selected as an All-Star on seven occasions, has unequivocally demonstrated his exceptional talent and prowess over an entire 162-game season subsequent to his affiliation with the Dodgers in 2020. Under the leadership of a prominent August performance, during which he achieved 11 home runs and a 1.355 OPS, Betts reached a personal record of 39 home runs. The player achieved a batting average of .307, which represents his highest performance since he attained a batting average of .346 and subsequently won the American League MVP award in the year 2018.
Due to his versatility, Betts exhibited a level of value to his club on defense that may have surpassed that of any other player in the major leagues.
Betts, who primarily occupied the right field position since his debut in the major leagues in 2014, assumed the role of second baseman in 70 games during the current season. Additionally, due to the team’s requirement for a player in the shortstop position, Betts commenced 12 games in such role. Betts demonstrated exceptional versatility by effectively transitioning between all three spots, while maintaining a remarkably low error count of only five.
Mookie Betts’ acrobatic play
In relation to Betts, it is evident that the individual, who has been chosen as an All-Star seven times, has clearly showcased his remarkable skill and ability during a complete 162-game season following his association with the Dodgers in 2020. During a notable August performance, characterized by the attainment of 11 home runs and a 1.355 OPS, Betts successfully established a personal milestone of 39 home runs. The player attained a batting average of .307, signifying his most notable performance since he achieved a batting average of .346 and subsequently earned the American League MVP title in 2018.
Betts shown a remarkable degree of adaptability, so showcasing a significant level of defensive worth to his club that potentially beyond that of any other player in the major leagues.
Since his initial appearance in the major leagues in 2014, Betts has predominantly played in the right field position. However, during the current season, he has undertaken the position of second baseman in a total of 70 games. Furthermore, as a result of the team’s specific need for a player to fulfill the responsibilities of the shortstop position, Betts initiated his participation in 12 games in said capacity. Betts shown remarkable adaptability by skillfully shifting among all three positions, while simultaneously upholding an impressively low mistake tally of merely five..
Outman a finalist for NL ROY
In the context of the NL Rookie of the Year voting, Outman is expected to face a challenging task, as Carroll is widely regarded as the frontrunner. However, Outman’s inaugural season proved to be a significant advancement for the Dodgers. Outman’s inclusion in the team roster was not anticipated during Spring Training; however, the occurrence of a season-ending injury to Gavin Lux created an opportunity for the inclusion of a left-handed batter. Outman capitalized on the opportunity presented and actively participated in a total of 145 games in the outfield throughout the current season, with a notable majority of 135 games played specifically in the center field position.