Top 5 Most Interesting MVP Candidates in 2023 in MLB

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Baseball fans around the United States and the rest of the world had an incredible experience in 2022. The entire season entertained fans from the first moment to the last, with many teams having outstanding campaigns.

No two teams had a more successful season than the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros. The two franchises, both MLB teams with MVP awards to their name, played out the World Series in 2022 for six intense and tightly contested games.

Despite the best efforts of the Phillies, the Astros were victorious, emerging with a 4-2 success that saw them lift the World Series for the first time in many years.

With many players putting up their names in baseball history with their performances last year, others will be looking to step up to the mat. Jeremy Pena, the Astros’ MVP during the World Series, will not be the only superstar hoping to have another great season.

Below is a rundown of the five most interesting MVP candidates ahead of the 2023 MLB Season.

1. Manny Machado – Padres

A third baseman, Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres was one of the most impressive surprises of the 2022 season. His talent was never in question, but he pulled off some terrific displays last year to show that he had the consistency to match his ability.

Fans of the Padres will be hoping that Machado can have an even better year in 2023. He had a 159 OPS+ last year, his highest in an entire MLB season. He particularly hit form after August, managing 0.588 slugging with 13 home runs to push San Diego into the postseason and to a successful year.

2. Trea Turner – Phillies

A shortstop, Trea Turner of the Philadelphia Phillies is another possible pick for MVP in 2023. If he has a season in 2023 as he did in 2022, he will be in the top ten without question. A new arrival at the Phillies from the LA Dodgers, Turner hopes to take the World Series runners up to the next level.

Turner had an impressive 0.686 OPS after 30 games of the season, but then he stepped up even more later in the campaign. He then managed  .306/.348/.487 with 20 home runs and 22 steals for the Dodgers. Most LA fans felt that letting him go was a mistake by the franchise.

3. Jose Altuve – Astros

With superstars in their prime, such as Jose Altuve, there is no wonder the Houston Astros were the team to beat last year. After winning the World Series, one may assume that some players will come back in worse form, as they have already accomplished what they set out to do in their careers.

Altuve is different from those athletes. He constantly wants to improve himself, so his stats in 2022 were better than in 2021 and 2020. He took his game up a notch, hoping to do the same in 2023 to secure the MVP award.

With a 0.629 in the shortened 2020 season, some were writing him off as a top talent. Then Altuve managed an OPS of 0.921 in 2022, showing that he is among the best second basemen in baseball.

4. Paul Goldschmidt – Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are not one of the favorites to go and win the World Series in 2023. While they have a very good team, their depth could be better, and they have often found it tough to close out games in the playoffs.

What they do have, however, is an outstanding first baseman in Paul Goldschmidt. He finished among the top ten players in the league on several occasions over the past few years. While he has yet to reach the MVP level, he is probably hoping that he can step up his game to accomplish that milestone.

Goldschmidt had hitting stats of .317/.404/.578 and 35 home runs, showing that he is one of the best sluggers in the game. He also had an OPS+ of 180, which is a league-high for 2022.

5. J.T. Realmuto – Phillies

J.T. Realmuto, who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies, had an outstanding season in 2022. He was one of the most impressive players on his team, pushing them to the World Series. Not only were his statistics impressive, but anyone who went to a Phillies game would often comment about his energy, with his teammates being very positive.

Realmuto managed one of the top seasons of his career in 2022, having an OPS+ of 129 and a Baseball Reference WAR of 6.5. He has managed similar or better numbers in the recent past, suggesting his form is not temporary. Most experts believe that Realmuto will have an outstanding season in 2023.