The 2023 MLB Regular Season has ended, and here at ITD, five of our writers voted on who we think should win each award. Four took part in every category, and one took part in only the manager’s vote.
The Voters:
CJ – Boston Red Sox and All MLB Writer
Gage O’Leary – Detroit Tigers Writer
Aaron Schwartz – New York Mets Writer
Jack Janes – Los Angeles Angels Writer
Derek Harper – Arizona Diamondbacks Writer
2023 MLB Awards
American League MVP: Shohei Ohtani – Los Angeles Angels
Votes: (4-0)
Jack Janes on why he voted for Ohtani:
This one is a no-brainer. Ohtani leads position players in the AL in fWAR at 6.6 and in home runs at 44 despite only being a DH and only playing in 135 games. Among rate stats at the plate, he leads the whole league in wRC+ (180), OPS (1.066), and slugging percentage (.654) and leads the AL in OBP (.412). On the mound, his 3.14 ERA ranks fifth in the AL, and 31.5 K% leads the AL among pitchers with a minimum of 130 innings pitched. Injuries cut his season short, but he still put up another season that will go down in the history books.
National League MVP: Ronald Acuna Jr. – Atlanta Braves
Votes (3-1)
CJ on why he voted for Acuna
Ronald Acuna had a historic season award after his historic season. Mookie Betts received the other vote. Acuna posted the first 30/60 season, but he even broke that by posting a 40/70 season, recording 40 home runs and 70 stolen bases, a feat that has never been done. Acuna posted a slash line of .337/.416/.596 with a 1.012 OPS; he hit 35 doubles, four triples, 41 home runs, 106 RBI, 149 runs scored, 73 stolen bases, and 80 walks.
American League Cy Young: Gerritt Cole – New York Yankees
Votes: (4-0)
Gage O’Leary on why he voted for Cole
The Cy Young award is one of the most prestigious pitchers can earn during his major league career. Over the years, we’ve seen some big names make the right to be called a Cy Young award winner. Some have even won the award multiple times. This season, the players with either a great shot or a decent shot to win include Gerrit Cole, Sonny Gray, Kevin Gausman, Luis Castillo, George Kirby, and Framber Valdez. Kyle Bradish and Shohei Ohtani could be dark horses. Ohtani would likely be a favorite if it weren’t for the injury. I think Gerrit Cole will win his first career Cy Young award. Usually, the Cy Young is given to a player on a postseason-bound team. However, the New York Yankees will be watching from the couch. Cole put up some excellent numbers for being on a team that finished only two games above .500. He finished with a 15-4 record despite his team not being very good and finishing fourth in their division. Cole also had an excellent 2.63 ERA, a 7.5 WAR, and a 0.981 WHIP. He completed his season with 222 strikeouts and walked just 48 batters. When you can put up those numbers on a non-playoff team, you will be considered a strong candidate for Cy Young.
National League Cy Young: Blake Snell – San Diego Padres
Votes: (2-1-1)
CJ on why he voted for Snell
This was a close vote, and I ultimately had the final say between the San Diego Padres LHP Blake Snell, Atlanta Braves RHP Spencer Strider, and Chicago Cubs LHP Justin Steele. Snell ultimately gets it for me; even though they didn’t make the playoffs, he finished the season with 14-9 with a 2.25 ERA, a 3.44 FIP, a 1.18 WHIP, a 0.8 HR/9, a 5.0 BB/9, and an 11.7 K/9. He finished in the National League tied for tenth in innings pitched with 180, second in strikeouts with 234, second in K/9, first in H/9, ninth in WHIP, tied for fifth in wins, first in ERA, and first in WAR for Pitchers. After the All-Star break, when Snell took off, he made 14 starts, going 8-2 with a 1.54 ERA, a 3.27 FIP, a 1.15 WHIP, a 0.44 HR/9, a 5.49 BB/9, and an 11.20 K/9. It’s hard to beat that, so he takes home the National Cy Young award, and he does so entering a year he will be a free agent.
American League Rookie of the Year: Gunnar Henderson – Baltimore Orioles
Votes: (4-0)
Gage O’Leary on why he voted for Henderson
Orioles’ rookie Gunnar Henderson is my pick to win the 2023 American League Rookie of the Year. The Baltimore Orioles have been one of the biggest surprises this season. Not only did they make the postseason competing in a tough AL East division, but they are considered a favorite to represent the American League in the World Series. Gunnar Henderson has been a big part of why they are so good this season. Henderson has excellent numbers in the power-hitting category. He’s slashing .255/.325/.489 with 28 Home Runs. Gunnar has 66 extra-base hits and 82 RBIs as well. He’s scored 100 runs, stole ten bases, and walked 56 times throughout the season. Although there are other good options for AL Rookie of the Year, Gunnar Henderson wins unanimously.
National League Rookie of the Year: Corbin Carroll – Arizona Diamondbacks
Votes: (3-1)
Jack Janes on why he voted for Corbin Carroll
This one was also relatively easy. Nolan Jones deserves credit for an incredible rookie year, but he only appeared in 106 games, whereas Carroll was the best or second-best in most statistical categories with 155 games. He led NL rookies in fWAR (6.0), home runs (25), RBI (76), runs (116), triples (10), and stolen bases (54). He also ranked second among NL rookies in wRC+ (133) and OPS (.868). More amazingly, Carroll became the first rookie in MLB history to have at least 25 home runs and 50 stolen bases in their rookie season.
American League Manager of the Year: Brandon Hyde – Baltimore Orioles
Votes: (4-1)
Brandon Hyde is the American League Manager of the Year. He led the Baltimore Orioles to the best record in the American League, going 101-61 and getting them back into the playoffs for the first time since 2016 when they got in via the Wild Card. It was their first American League East Division Title since 2014. This is a regular season award, so despite them being eliminated last night, Hyde deserves the recognition as being the best manager in the American League in 2023.
National League Manager of the Year: Skip Schumacher – Miami Marlins
Votes: (2-1-1-1)
Skip Schumaker is the National League Manager of the Year as he got the Miami Marlins back to the playoffs in a season in which they lost their ace Sandy Alcantara and had a young pitcher perform well, but he went down for the year in Eury Perez. The Marlins finished 84-78, six games over .500, and it’s their most wins since 2009 when they went 87-75. The Marlins ran into a red-hot playoff team in the Philadelphia Phillies in the playoffs. They got swept, but that shouldn’t take away what the team accomplished in the regular season, which leads Schumaker to this award for best manager in the National League in 2023.
