In his fourth season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Mookie Betts put together arguably his best performance. His stellar year earned him another All-Star Game bid, while putting Betts in the running for the 2023 Players Choice MLB Player of the Year Award, among other accolades.
Betts is a lock to be in the top-three for the National League Outstanding Player, alongside Atlanta Braves teammates Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson. All of whom also figure to be in the mix for the NL MVP Award.
Winners of the 2023 Players Choice Awards will be announced Thursday, November 2, during the 3 p.m. PT edition of SportsCenter on ESPN.
The 31-year-old excelled with his multi-position versatility, showing he could provide plus-defense in the outfield, while providing some flash with his feet on the dirt at both second base and shortstop. Betts’ season was highlighted by a historic month of August.
He hit .455/.516/.839 during August, earning NL Player of the Month honors, and setting franchise records for hits (51) and runs (35) in a calendar month. Betts’ 107 RBI are the most for a leadoff hitter in MLB history, while clubbing 12 homers to start a game are second-most all-time.
Betts ranked fourth in the NL in hits (179), fourth in runs (126), tied for fourth in batting average (.307), and his 40 doubles were second-most.
Betts’ 8.3 fWAR was tied for the top spot with Acuña, whom he battled with for NL MVP consideration during of the 2023 season.
How Mookie Betts compares
Betts and Acuña are joined by Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani for the 2023 Players Choice MLB Player of the Year Award. Although the final stretch of his season was slowed by a few injuries, Ohtani performed as advertised even while his team’s place in the AL West standings soured.
Acuña himself had an incredible season, starting the 2023 campaign hot and continuing his showcase throughout the year. Acuña led the league in hits (217), runs (149), stolen bases (73) and home runs from the leadoff spot (41).
Acuña posted the first 40-homer, 70 stolen bases season in MLB history, while breaking a Braves’ modern era record for steals in a season. Acuña won NL Player of the Month honors in April, June and September.
Ohtani provided a memorable year with the Angels, leading baseball with a 9.0 fWAR. He posted a 1.066 on-base plus slugging percentage to go along with 44 home runs, 95 RBI and 78 extra-base hits overall. Ohtani led MLB in slugging percentage (.654).
On the mound, Ohtani logged a 10-5 record, with a 3.14 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings pitched. His 31.5% strikeout rate ranked second in the AL.
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