Major League Baseball 2023 Award Predictions

By: Mallory Morrow

Edited By: Kylie Augis

Courtesy of Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Earning an MLB award at the end of the season is a very high honor. With the 2023 season being well over the halfway point, many people have favorites for MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year. Some of the awards feel like they already have shoo-in winners while others remain up in the air. These are my predictions for who will win MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year in each league.

AL MVP- Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani, pitcher and designated hitter for the Los Angeles Angels, has been my for sure American League MVP frontrunner from the get-go. Through 373 at bats this season Ohtani has a .300 batting average, 36 home runs, 77 RBIs, 12 stolen bases and a 1.069 on-base plus slugging percentage. Pitching wise, Ohtani has a 3.71 earned run average, 148 strikeouts and hitters are batting .195 against him. This season Ohtani has been named an All-Star Game starter at DH, AL Player of the Week twice and June AL Player of the Month.

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NL MVP- Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuña Jr., right fielder for the Atlanta Braves, is my favorite for the NL MVP. Through 396 at bats this season Acuña Jr. has a .331 batting average, 23 home runs, 58 RBIs, 46 stolen bases and a .984 on-base plus slugging percentage. This season Acuña Jr. has been named an All-Star Game starter, NL Player of the Week once, April NL Player of the Month and June NL Player of the Month.

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AL Cy Young- Gerrit Cole

Gerrit Cole, pitcher for the New York Yankees, is my current choice in the AL Cy Young race. Cole is 9-2 on the season with a 2.78 earned run average and 144 strikeouts. This season Cole has been named an All-Star Game starting pitcher, AL Player of the Week once and April AL Player of the Month.

NL Cy Young- Spencer Strider

Spencer Strider, pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, may not be everyone’s pick for the NL Cy Young, but he is mine. Strider has 11 wins, a 3.78 earned run average and leads the MLB in strikeouts with 189. Strider was named to the All-Star Game this season. I may be biased with Strider as my pick, but I will say the NL Cy Young is up in the air right now with no clear standout.

AL Rookie of the Year- Josh Jung

Josh Jung, third baseman for the Texas Rangers, is in the mix for AL Rookie of the Year and is my winner. Through 389 at bats this season Jung has a .272 batting average, 20 home runs, 61 RBIs and a .810 on-base plus slugging percentage. This season Jung has been named an All-Star Game starter, April AL Rookie of the Month and May AL Rookie of the Month.

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NL Rookie of the Year- Corbin Carroll

Corbin Carroll, left fielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks, stands out to me for NL Rookie of the Year. Through 346 at bats this season Carroll has a .280 batting average, 21 home runs, 55 RBIs, 29 stolen bases and a .901 on-base plus slugging percentage. This season Carroll has been named an All-Star Game starter, NL Player of the Week once and June NL Rookie of the Month.