Ronald Acuña Jr. solidified his position as one of baseball’s top players by winning his first MVP award in 2023. He achieved the remarkable feat of a 40/70 season, captivating fans worldwide.
During the BBWAA Dinner in New York City, Acuña received his well-deserved award on a Saturday evening. This annual event, organized by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, honors players whose exceptional performances during the 2023 regular season gained national recognition. The ceremony celebrates various awards, including the AL and NL MVP, Rookie of the Year, Cy Young Awards, and more.
In a unanimous decision, both Acuña and Shohei Ohtani were selected as the MVP winners in 2023. Remarkably, this was the second time they received awards in the same year, following their Rookie of the Year accolades in 2018.
Shohei Ohtani was recognized for his outstanding season with the Angels. Although he departed the Angels during the offseason, signing a historic 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers, Ohtani expressed gratitude towards the Angels organization and his teammates for their unwavering belief in him.
Ronald Acuña Jr. also had the opportunity to deliver a speech reflecting on his exceptional 2023 season. He expressed gratitude for making a kid from La Sabana’s dreams come true and congratulated his fellow award winners on their outstanding performances. Moreover, Acuña issued a warning to the rest of the league, stating that he is just getting started and feeling stronger, faster, and healthier than ever before.
Braves fans anticipate even greater achievements from their superstar slugger, recognizing that the 40/70 season was just the beginning. With Acuña in his prime, they envision him making further history, potentially reaching the extraordinary milestone of 50 home runs and 70 RBIs in a single season.