MLB Predicted Award Winners
May 26, 2023
- American League
- MVP Prediction: Shohei Ohtani
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- Ohtani is the greatest all-around player in my lifetime. We have never seen a player who could throw a pitch 102 mph, run to first base in four seconds flat, hit a ball 450 feet, and be both an ace and a middle-of-the-order impact bat in the same game. Sorry, Babe Ruth, you couldn’t do that. Ohtani will win this year’s AL MVP unanimously.
- C.Y. Young Prediction: Shane Mclanahan
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- McClanahan was the AL’s best pitcher at the All-Star break last year, and this year I think he’ll be able to maintain that consistency over 30 starts. Last season, he went 12-8 with a 2.54 ERA and was worth 4.0 WAR (Baseball Reference). His stuff is elite and he’s having a great spring.
- Rookie of the Year Prediction: Anthony Volpe
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- Volpe has the potential to hit 20 home runs and steal 30 bases in his rookie season, and if he achieves those numbers, I see him edging out Yoshida, even though Boston’s $90 million man is a proven hitter, and a veteran with years of experience in Japan. Henderson and Rodriguez of the Orioles have the talent to win this award as well. (Rodriguez will start the season in the minors.)
- National League
- MVP Prediction: Ronald Acuna Jr
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- This is the toughest award to predict. But Acuña is finally fully healthy following his ACL surgery in 2021, so I give him the edge. He has the talent to hit 30-plus home runs and steal 40 bases this year, and if the Braves win the NL East again, he has a strong chance to win his first MVP Award.
- C.Y. Young Prediction: Corbin Burnes
- Burnes lost his salary arbitration case to the Brewers and reportedly did not like what the team said about him in the hearing. I think he’ll take it out on opposing hitters this season and win his second Cy Young Award before getting traded in the off-season. Burnes’ stuff is just not fair; he’s unhittable when he’s on.
- Rookie of the Year Prediction: Jordan Walker
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- I believe he’s the best prospect in the sport. All the 20-year-old needed was a major-league opportunity to prove his impact as a middle-of-the-lineup bat, and he’ll get one right out of the gate this season. Walker slashed .306/.388/.510 with 31 doubles, 19 home runs, 68 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases last year at Double-A.
