The 2023 MVPs for both leagues will be announced on Thursday, and the National League race features three candidates who had stellar and record-breaking seasons.
Ronald Acua Jr., the National League favorite, became the first player in baseball history to hit 40 home runs and steal 70 bases in the same season, all while playing for a Braves team that led all of baseball with 104 wins.
The Dodgers’ dynamic duo at the top of the batting order are the other two candidates. Mookie Betts had his best season as a Dodger, hitting 39 home runs, setting the single-season RBI record for a leadoff hitter, and excelling defensively at three different positions. Freddie Freeman became the only first baseman in baseball history to hit 25 home runs, 55 doubles, and steal 20 bases in a single season, setting a new Dodgers franchise record.
MLB.com’s Juan Toribio makes the following arguments for Betts and Freeman to win the National League MVP:
“Betts’ ability to move around and play a couple of defensive positions at a high level allowed the Dodgers to field their best team.” That should definitely increase your chances of winning the award. Betts also had statistics if you were interested. He finished the season with a career-high 39 home runs.”
“This season, Freeman set a new Dodgers record with 59 doubles, falling one short of becoming the first player since the 1930s to hit 60 in a single season.” Along with that, Freeman hit 29 home runs and finished with a.331 batting average. Oh, and he had 211 hits, breaking the 200-hit plateau for the first time in his career.”
“According to sources, the Dodgers, Rangers, and Boston Red Sox are all expected to be in the Ohtani sweepstakes… And, while the industry’s overwhelming expectation is that he ends up with the Dodgers, that line of thought may be premature.”
Shta Imanaga and standout Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who was ranked as the best free agent starter by MLB.com, are among the Japanese starting pitchers looking to sign with a major league club. The Dodgers are the second most likely team to sign Yamamoto, according to Zachary D. Rymer, who ranks the ten best fits for Yamamoto.
