2023 MLB Awards: Angels’ Shohei Ohtani Wins AL MVP, Braves’ Ronald Acuña Wins NL MVP

On Thursday, Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña were announced as the American and National League MVPs, respectively.

Both were elected unanimously, the first time that has happened in the 115-year history of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

For Ohtani, 29, the honor marks his second AL MVP award in three years, on the heels of a season that saw him continue his two-way brilliance for the Los Angeles Angels.

In 135 games, the Japanese superstar batted a career-best .304, with 44 home runs and 95 RBIs. On the mound, Ohtani posted a 10-5 record and 3.14 ERA.

Ohtani sustained a UCL tear in August, ending his season on the mound, but the three-time All-Star opted to keep hitting. He underwent surgery to repair the injury in September, officially ending his season.

Post-surgery, Ohtani plans to be ready for Opening Day 2024, but won’t pitch again until 2025. He is now a free agent, and turned down a qualifying offer of $20,325,000 from the Angels this week.

As for Acuña, the Atlanta Braves right fielder posted career-highs in batting average (.337), on-base percentage (.416), OPS (1.012), RBIs (106) and stolen bases (73). The 25-year-old also matched his previous career-best marks in slugging percentage (.596) and homers (41).

Those numbers, which Acuña put up while leading the Braves to the best regular-season record in MLB (104-58), were enough to give him the nod over Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts.

Acuña also became the first player in MLB history to rack up 40 home runs and 70 stolen bases in a single season. The Venezuelan is under contract with Atlanta through the 2028 season.