Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images
This Friday the second part of the 2023 Major League season begins and the main candidates for the MVP award of the American League and the National League are already here. which are led by Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr.
The survey published by MLB.com was answered by 47 reporters and analysts based on the first half and what is expected to happen in the second part of the campaign.
Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who is having a great year. Betts hit 9 home runs in his last 15 games and projects 46 home runs at the end of this season.
The Dodgers outfielder ended up on fire with the bat. In his last 14 games he finished with a .367 batting average with 18 hits, 8 home runs, 17 RBIs and 17 runs scored in 14 games in the last 14 games of his career.
Betts leads the team in home runs (26), RBIs (62), runs scored (72), OPS (.964), slugging percentage (.564) and second in hits (92), doubles (23),
Ronald Acuña Jr. is a candidate to win the National League MVP and it would be the first time in history that there would be a unanimous vote in both distinctions.
He has 21 home runs and an NL-leading 41 stolen bases entering the second half, so he projects to be close to 40-40 by the end of the season.
Third is Arizona Diamondbacks rookie Corbin Carroll who is noted for his bat skills and speed on the bases. The rookie finished with 18 home runs and 26 stolen bases coming out of the All-Star break to go along with his .289 average and .915 OPS.
Shohei Ohtani is the AL’s leading candidate with a great first half. As a hitter, the Japanese finished with .302 with 103 hits., 32 home runs (leading the Majors), 71 RBI and 63 runs scored in 89 games this season. Also as a pitcher, Ohtani is 7-4 with a 3.32 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 17 appearances this season.
The candidate who is second, behind Ohtani, is Luis Robert Jr., who has surprised by his home run strength in 2023. The Cuban has 26 home runs, second in the American League behind Ohtani, and already has twice as many home runs achieved in 2021, which was its top.
In third place is Wander Franco who has had a good year with his offense and his glove. The 22-year-old Dominican has 11 home runs and 28 stolen bases in the first half.
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