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- Brent Rooker
Rooker has been a huge bright spot for a dull Oakland Athletics team. He’s hitting for a .317 average with 10 homers and 26 runs batted in. The Athletics are in shambles, but Brent Rooker is not.
- Thairo Estrada
The 27-year-old Giants second baseman is hitting for a .338 average with six home runs and 14 runs batted in so far this year. Estrada is lighting it up this year, and it seems as if San Francisco has found a long-term second baseman for the future.
- Wander Franco
Franco is raking this season in Tampa Bay. The 22-year-old shortstop is hitting .310 with seven home runs and 23 runs batted in. He’s an MVP candidate for a reason, and is arguably the best player on the best team in baseball.
- Yandy Diaz
Another Tampa Bay Ray on the list! Diaz is dazzling this season. He’s hitting .317 with nine home runs and 19 runs batted in. Diaz is very underrated, but it’s time he gets the credit he deserves.
- Sean Murphy
Murphy has been outstanding for the Atlanta Braves this season. The 28-year-old catcher is having his best season of his career. He’s slugging .288 with nine home runs and 32 runs batted in. He also has the second-best OPS in baseball at 1.076. Murphy could be a dark horse MVP candidate.
- Matt Chapman
The Blue Jays third baseman is hitting .338 this year with five home runs and 22 runs batted in. His average is second best in all of baseball and he has the third-best OPS in baseball at 1.004. Chapman isn’t usually a good average hitter, but that’s certainly not the case in 2023 thus far.
- Randy Arozarena
Another Tampa Bay Ray makes the cut! The 28-year-old outfielder is hitting .319 with eight home runs and 30 runs batted in. He’s the heart and soul of the team and is becoming one of the most fun players to watch in all of baseball.
- Bo Bichette
Bichette is criminally underrated. Not many people know that he has led the American League in hits in back-to-back seasons, and he’s on his way to do so again in 2023. He currently has 52 hits, which is good enough for first in all of Major League Baseball. Bichette is hitting for a .329 average with eight home runs and 24 runs batted in. Look out for him to be in the MVP race this season!
- Luis Arraez
There’s a very solid argument to make Arraez the best hitter in baseball. He’s hitting .398 with a home run and 13 runs batted in. Arraez is ridiculously good with the bat, and he pretty much makes solid contact in every at-bat. He has only struck out nine times in 123 at-bats this season. Arraez is a rare type of player in today’s game, and it certainly shows.
- Ronald Acuna Jr.
Acuna Jr. has been incredibly good in 2023. That’s why he’s currently the best hitter in all of baseball. He’s hitting for a .347 average with seven home runs and 22 runs batted in. Acuna has been an excellent base stealer this year, as he is already up to 15 stolen bases. It looks as if he has already mastered pitch clock manipulation on the bases. Acuna Jr. is a sure fire MVP candidate this year and I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins the award when it’s all said and done.
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–MLB National League MVP Leaders
