Ronald Acuña Jr., the talented right fielder for the Atlanta Braves, has been honored with two prestigious awards in the annual Players Choice Awards. Voted by his fellow major league players, Acuña was named the player of the year as well as the National League’s outstanding player. It’s no surprise, given his remarkable performance this season. In fact, Acuña made history by becoming the first player ever to achieve the impressive feat of hitting 40 home runs and stealing 70 bases within a single season. Alongside this incredible achievement, Acuña boasted an impressive .337 batting average, along with 41 home runs, 106 RBIs, and an impressive 73 stolen bases.
Moving on to the American League, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels claimed the outstanding player award. Ohtani had an outstanding season, showcasing his prowess both as a power-hitting slugger and as a dominant pitcher. As a hitter, he displayed an impressive .304 batting average and crushed 44 home runs, in addition to tallying 95 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. Moreover, Ohtani showcased his exceptional pitching skills, finishing the season with a remarkable record of 10-5, a 3.14 ERA, and an impressive 167 strikeouts across 132 innings. Unfortunately, injuries prevented Ohtani from continuing his stellar season, as he suffered a torn elbow ligament, ending his pitching campaign, and an oblique strain, which prematurely concluded his hitting season. Regardless, Ohtani’s exceptional performance has undoubtedly put him on the radar as a highly sought-after player in the upcoming free agent market.
In addition to Acuña and Ohtani, there were other deserving award recipients in various categories. Marcus Semien of the Texas Rangers was recognized with the esteemed Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award for his exceptional leadership qualities. Former outfielder Phil Bradley was honored with the Curt Flood Award for his significant contributions to advancing players’ rights.
Gerrit Cole from the New York Yankees and Blake Snell from the San Diego Padres were celebrated as the outstanding pitchers in their respective leagues. The Chicago Cubs’ Cody Bellinger and the Chicago White Sox’s Liam Hendriks stood out as the impressive comeback players of the year. Lastly, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll and the Baltimore Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson were acknowledged as the outstanding rookies in their leagues.
All in all, the Players Choice Awards brought well-deserved recognition to these exceptional individuals who have left an indelible mark on the world of baseball.