MLB Yearender 2023: Corey Seager’s Retort, Ronald Acuña Jr.’s Historic Feat, And Shohei Ohtani Breaking MLB’s Bank

2023 was a historical year for baseball, from the New York Mets creating the largest payroll in baseball history to the Texas Rangers winning their first-ever World Series. This year has given us many things. But a few names like Corey Seager, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Shohei Ohtani deserve a special mention for engraving their names in MLB history.

Few players ever get an opportunity to do what these three have done. At the same time, they’ve set a benchmark that might not get touched anytime soon.

Corey Seager – The 2 Time World Series MVP 

After Corey Seager’s first season with the Texas Rangers ended up as a relative disappointment, questions were raised. Critics sharpened their daggers as it seemed the Rangers were about to repeat the same story they once lived with Alex Rodriguez. History did repeat itself in 2023 but in a way that surprised everyone. 

Seager returned with fire in his eyes and only one goal in mind – the World Series. Month after month, battle after battle, he led the Rangers from the front. Then came the finale – the Fall Classic versus the Arizona Diamondbacks. That was when Seager truly shined, game after game attacking ferociously. He hit three home runs in October and became the architect of the Rangers’ first-ever World Series. As if that wasn’t enough, Corey Seager also became only the 4th player to become a World Series MVP two times, in 2020 and 2023.

Ronald Acuña Jr. – The man on fire

Ronald Acuña Jr. had what was easily one of the greatest seasons in National League history. From hitting to stealing bases, he was setting standards that looked untouchable. His record of 40+ home runs and 70+ stolen bases are numbers that might not be reached anytime soon.

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After missing the Atalanta Braves’ 2021 World Series win due to a freak injury, Acuña Jr. entered 2023 with a chip on his shoulder. While the Fall Classic dream remained unfulfilled, Acuña Jr. still created history. With a slash line of .337/.416/.596 and a league-high OPS of 1.012, coupled with 73 stolen bases. Acuña Jr. was named the unanimous NL MVP.

Shohei Ohtani – A habitual history writer

It seems like only years change but Shohei Ohtani remains the same. For the past three seasons, he has been perhaps the greatest player to have graced a ballpark. With his two-way dominance, Shotime is doing things not seen since, well, ever. The Japanese marvel again had all of the baseball worlds at his fingertips.

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Winning his second AL MVP award was not even his biggest feat. That came in December when Ohtani signed a staggering $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers – the biggest in North American Sports history!

With the biggest show-stealers in a year filled with historic moments, will 2024 bring even more magic?