2023 Players Choice Awards

2023

finalists

PRESS RELEASE:

2023 PCA Finalists

SINCE 1992, THE PLAYERS CHOICE AWARDS HAVE RECOGNIZED THE OUTSTANDING ON- AND OFF-FIELD PERFORMANCES OF PLAYERS.

THE AWARDS HAVE SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE TO PLAYERS BECAUSE THE WINNERS ARE SELECTED IN BALLOTING AMONG THEIR PEERS.

FINALISTS APPEAR IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

MARVIN MILLER MAN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

IAN HAPP

Ian Happ supports his peers on and off the field. He serves as a Pension Committee Representative for the MLBPA, and his podcast, “The Compound,” uplifted his Cubs teammates’ voices during the Covid-19 pandemic. In June, Happ commissioned artist Patrick Vale to capture the game from the player’s perspective, resulting in an exhibition at Chicago’s Gallery Victor titled “See What I See.” Happ’s kindness extends to helping Chicagoans as well. He partnered with Connect Roasters to create Quarantine Coffee, a project that raised Covid-19 relief funds for organizations such as Chicago Food Depository and Save the Children. In partnership with the MLBPA, he also coordinated a $7500 donation to Rush University Medical Center in Chicago to support healthcare professionals.

FRANCISCO LINDOR

Francisco Lindor is one of the great ambassadors of the game. The 2022 Marvin Miller Man of the Year currently serves as an Association Player Representative on the MLBPA’s Executive Subcommittee. He has shown a commitment to providing his communities with resources for sports, education, and health. Lindor has worked with organizations such as Make-a-Wish and the Boys & Girls Club, and his own community initiative, Lindor Smiles, provides children and adults with mental and/or physical challenges in Ohio with an opportunity to play baseball. In 2021, he donated $1 million to his alma mater, Monteverde Academy, and frequently takes time to support the youth in his home country, Puerto Rico.

MARCUS SEMIEN

Marcus Semien was named Marvin Miller Man of the Year in 2021 and has been nominated by his peers for the award for the third straight year. He continues to be an engaged and committed member of the MLBPA’s Executive Subcommittee as an Association Player Representative. As a Ranger, Semien is active in charitable efforts to provide food to people in need during holidays and mentor youth baseball programs. He strongly advocates for increased diversity in baseball in his work with the Players Alliance and Coaching Corps. He is also a two-time club winner of the MLBPA’s Heart and Hustle Award, an award that honors players who demonstrate a passion for the game and embody its values, spirit and traditions.

player of the year finalists

RONALD ACUÑA JR.

Ronald Acuña Jr. showcased an unprecedented combination of power and speed this season. He led the league in hits (217), runs (149), stolen bases (73) and home runs from the leadoff spot (41) and ranked second in batting average (.337). He set the Atlanta Braves’ modern era (since 1900) franchise record for most stolen bases in a season and became the first player in MLB history to finish a season with 40+ home runs and 70+ stolen bases. He is the first player since Joe DiMaggio in 1937 to collect at least 200 hits, 100 RBI, 145 runs and 40 homers in a season. He won the NL Player of the Month award in April, June, and September and tied for fifth in the NL in outfield assists with 10.

MOOKIE BETTS

Mookie Betts’ month of August was the high point of an incredible year. He won NL Player of the Month after slashing .455/.516/.839 and setting the Dodgers’ franchise record for most hits (51) and runs (35) in a calendar month. On the season, Betts ranked fourth in the NL in hits (179), second in doubles (40), fourth in runs (126), and tied for fourth in batting average (.307). Betts’ 107 RBIs are the most in a single season ever by a player in the leadoff spot. His 12 leadoff home runs are the most this season and tied for second most in a season in MLB history.

SHOHEI OHTANI

Shohei Ohtani had yet another unworldly season of two-way play. In 135 games, he recorded 44 home runs, 95 RBIs, and 78 extra base hits, and led the majors in slugging (.654), OPS (1.066), and bWAR (10.0) On the mound, he finished 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 132.0 innings, and his 31.5% strikeout rate ranked second in the AL. He earned his third All-Star nod as the starting DH. Ohtani was the fastest Angels player to record 40 home runs in a season (114 games) and the first player in MLB history to record 40+ home runs and 15+ stolen bases in that span.

AMERICAN LEAGUE OUTSTANDING PLAYER FINALISTS

Yandy díaz

Yandy Díaz had a career year, earning his first All-Star nod and batting title with an AL-best .330 average and runner-up .410 on-base percentage. He recorded career-highs in average, OBP, slugging (.522), OPS (.932), hits (173), doubles (35), runs (95), and total bases (274). He led the AL with 19 3+ hit games and his 53 multi-hit games are the most by a Ray since Carl Crawford recorded 52 in 2010. His 22 home runs from the leadoff spot set a franchise record for most in a season in Rays history.

SHOHEI OHTANI

Shohei Ohtani had yet another unworldly season of two-way play. In 135 games, he recorded 44 home runs, 95 RBIs, and 78 extra base hits, and led the majors in slugging (.654), OPS (1.066), and bWAR (10.0). On the mound, he finished 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 132.0 innings, and his 31.5% strikeout rate ranked second in the AL. He earned his third All-Star nod as the starting DH. Ohtani was the fastest Angels player to record 40 home runs in a season (114 games) and the first player in MLB history to record 40+ home runs and 15+ stolen bases in that span.

COREY SEAGER

Corey Seager improved on his 2022 All-Star season to earn his fourth career nod this year. Despite playing in 32 fewer games, he upped his totals in hits (156), doubles (42), RBIs (96), and total bases (297) while tying his home run total (33, tied for a career high). His .327 batting average was just .003 shy of Yandy Diaz’s AL batting title. Seager became the third batter in Rangers history to record 30+ home runs in each of his first two seasons with the team. He finished second in MLB in slugging (.623), and second in OPS (1.013).

NATIONAL LEAGUE OUTSTANDING PLAYER FINALISTS

RONALD ACUÑA JR.

MOOKIE BETTS

MATT OLSON

In his second year with the Braves, Matt Olson broke the franchise record for home runs (54) and RBIs (139) in a season. His 54 home runs are tied for 11th most all-time in NL history. Olson logged a career best .283 batting average and .389 on base percentage while setting more career highs in hits (172), runs (127), walks (104), and OPS (.993). Olson earned an All-Star nod for the second time in his career, and he was also named the Braves’ 2023 Roberto Clemente Award nominee.

AMERICAN LEAGUE OUTSTANDING PITCHER FINALISTS

KYLE BRADISH

Kyle Bradish shined in his second season in the league. With a 2.83 ERA, Bradish became the first qualified Orioles starter to post a sub-3.00 ERA since Mike Mussina in 1992. His 2.23 ERA at home is the best single-season mark in Camden Yards history. Bradish threw eight scoreless starts, tied for the second most in a season in Orioles history with Steve Barber (1961), Milt Pappas (1964), and Jim Palmer (1976). Among MLB starters, Bradish ranked fourth in ERA, second in lowest home ERA, and fifth in bWAR (4.9).

GERRIT COLE

Gerrit Cole threw his second two-hit shutout on September 27 against the Blue Jays to cap off his sixth All-Star season. He finished with a 15-4 record, and the Yankees went 23-10 in his 33 starts. He became the first Yankees pitcher in the last 10 years to throw multiple shutouts in a season. With a 2.63 ERA, he became the 10th Yankee to win an AL ERA title and recorded the lowest ERA by a qualified Yankee starter in the last 43 years. He led all MLB pitchers in bWAR (7.5) and WPA (4.39) and was the only starter with a WHIP under 1.0 (0.98).

SONNY GRAY

Sonny Gray masterfully mixed his arsenal of six pitches to earn his third All-Star nod, each with a different team, and his first since 2019. Opponents hit .097 against his sweeper, the best mark for a single pitch in MLB (minimum 200 plate appearances). He posted his lowest ERA (2.79) since his first All-Star season in 2015 while allowing the fewest home runs per 9 innings of his career (0.39). Among AL starters, he ranked first in HR/9, second in ERA, second in earned runs allowed (57), third in fewest hits allowed (156), and second in bWAR (5.3).

NATIONAL LEAGUE OUTSTANDING PITCHER FINALISTS

ZAC GALLEN

Zac Gallen tossed a scoreless inning as the National League’s All-Star starting pitcher in July. He ranked second in MLB in games started (34), wins (17), and innings pitched (210.0) and third in the NL in strikeouts (220) and fWAR (5.2). Gallen became the sixth D-backs pitcher to reach 200.0+ innings and 200+ strikeouts in a season. He went 12-2 with a 2.47 ERA in 16 home starts and tossed his first career complete-game shutout on September 8 on the road against the Chicago Cubs.

BLAKE SNELL

Blake Snell’s 2.25 ERA this season was the NL’s best by 0.73 runs over Kodai Senga’s 2.98. Among qualified starters, Snell ranked first in opposing batting average (.180) and hits allowed (115), and second in strikeouts (234). His strikeouts and 32 games started surpassed his production from his 2018 Cy Young season in Tampa Bay. He finished the season going 10-2 in his final 12 starts, dominating hitters in 72.0 innings pitched with a 1.63 ERA and a .146 opponent average. He held opponents to three or fewer runs in 23 consecutive starts dating back to May 25.

JUSTIN STEELE

Justin Steele earned his first career All-Star nod as he finished the season with a 16-5 record and an MLB-best 12 wins at home. Among qualified NL starters, he had the third best ERA (3.06), fourth best BB/9 (1.87), and best HR/9 (0.73). On September 4, he tossed a career-high 8.0 scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants and became the Cubs’ first left-handed starting pitcher since 1901 to pitch at least 8.0 scoreless innings, allow two hits or fewer and strike out at least 12 in a game. Steele went eight straight starts to begin the season until he suffered his first loss against the Houston Astros on May 16.

AMERICAN LEAGUE OUTSTANDING ROOKIE FINALISTS

GUNNAR HENDERSON

Gunnar Henderson led MLB rookies in bWAR (6.3), home runs (28), and extra base hits (66) and set Orioles rookie records with 100 runs scored and a .489 slugging percentage. As a shortstop and third baseman, he led the team with 13 defensive runs saved, per Sports Info Solutions. Henderson was the first rookie in Orioles history to record 20+ doubles, 5+ triples, 20+ homers, and 10+ stolen bases in a season. He was AL Rookie of the Month in June.

TRISToN CASAS

Triston Casas had a hot second half to close out an impressive rookie campaign. Post-All-Star break, he logged a .317/.417/.617 slash line, recording 57 hits, 15 home runs, and 38 RBIs in 54 games. He had a team-high .856 OPS for the season and became the first Red Sox rookie since Joe Foy in 1966 to lead the team in walks (70). Among AL rookies, he ranked top five in OPS, OBP (.367), walks, and runs (66). His 14 home runs on the road ranked fourth all-time by a Red Sox rookie.

JOSH JUNG

Josh Jung became the first player to win back-to-back Rookie of the Month awards (April/May) since 2022 Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez. He joined Yennier Cano and Gunnar Henderson as one of three AL rookies to be named an All-Star. Among AL rookies, Jung finished top three in hits (127), doubles (25), home runs (23), and runs (75) and became the sixth rookie in Rangers history to hit 20+ home runs in a season. Jung was an elite defensive player as well, as his .988 fielding percentage at 3B ranked first in MLB.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OUTSTANDING ROOKIE FINALISTS

CORBIN CArROLL

Corbin Carroll, 22, helped lead the Diamondbacks to their first postseason appearance since 2017. He led the team in hits (161), triples (10), runs (116), stolen bases (54), batting average (.285), OBP (.362), slugging percentage (.506), and OPS (.868). He is the first rookie in MLB history to record 25+ home runs and 50+ stolen bases in a season. His 66 extra base hits are the most in a rookie season in franchise history, and his 5.8 offensive bWAR is tied for fourth-best ever by a Diamondbacks player. Carroll and Kodai Senga were the only two NL rookies to make the All-Star team.

KODAI SENGA

Kodai Senga filled the ace role smoothly after the midseason departures of Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. He led Mets starting pitchers in starts (29), wins (12), innings pitched (166.1), strikeouts (202), and ERA (2.98) and joined Dwight Gooden as the second Mets rookie to reach 200 strikeouts in a season. His ghost forkball ranked first in MLB in whiff rate (59.5%) among pitches with a minimum of 100 plate appearances (per Baseball Savant). Senga was the fifth Mets rookies to be selected to an All-Star Game, and the first Japanese-born rookie to be selected since Masahiro Tanaka in 2014.

SPENCER STEER

Spencer Steer won NL Rookie of the Month in May. He finished the season as the NL rookie leader in RBIs (86), doubles (37, tied), walks (68, tied) and ranked second in hits with 158. He is one of only two rookies in Reds history to record 30+ doubles, 20+ home runs and 80+ RBIs (Joey Votto in 2008) and is the only Reds rookie ever to produce at least 23 HR and 15 steals in a season. Steer also showed his versatility as the fourth player in Reds history to make at least 15 appearances at four positions in a single season.

AMERICAN LEAGUE comeback player FINALISTS

tyler glasnow

Tommy John surgery in August 2021 forced Tyler Glasnow to miss most of the 2022 season, and an oblique strain delayed his 2023 season debut until May 27. But Glasnow came back stronger than ever, posting career highs in starts (21), wins (10), innings (120.0), and strikeouts (162). Among starters, his 33.4% strikeout rate ranked first in the AL and second in MLB to Spencer Strider’s 36.8%. On July 25, Glasnow became the 15th fastest pitcher in MLB history to reach 600 career strikeouts, doing so in only 467.1 innings pitched.

liam hendriks

Diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in January, Liam Hendriks completed treatment and made his emotional return to the mound on May 29 against the Angels. The entire stadium, as well as the larger baseball community, applauded Hendriks for his inspirational perseverance. The 2022 All-Star reached 96 mph on his fastball in his debut. He pitched in five games this season, allowing just one run and one hit in his final four relief innings before his year was cut short by season-ending Tommy John surgery.

ryan o'hearn

Ryan O’Hearn was designated for assignment by the Baltimore Orioles in January 2023. In 11 games with the Triple A affiliate Norfolk Tides, he logged a slash line of .354/.404/.729 and earned another big-league promotion. He led the Orioles in batting average (.298) and set career highs with 100 hits, 22 doubles, 60 RBIs, 48 runs, 37 extra base hits, 26 multi-hit games, and 13 multi-RBI games. His 14 home runs tied his career high. On September 18, he became the oldest Oriole to tally five hits in a game since Matt Wieters in 2016.

NATIONAL LEAGUE comeback player FINALISTS

cody bellinger

Cody Bellinger regained his footing with the Cubs after struggling in his final two years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His batting average jumped from .210 in 2022 to .307 this season, which tied for sixth best in MLB. His .356 OBP, .525 slugging percentage, and .881 OPS are all the highest marks since his 2019 NL MVP season. Bellinger cut his strikeout percentage from 27.3% to 15.7%. He led the Cubs in slugging, OPS, total bases (262), and home runs (26, tied).

michael conforto

After playing 125 games for the New York Mets in 2021, Michael Conforto spent last season recovering from shoulder surgery. He signed a two-year contract with the Giants in January and provided a much-needed spark in the middle of the lineup. He finished third on the team in RBIs (58), fourth in on-base percentage (.334), third in walks (53), and tied for fourth in home runs (15). At 30, he lent a valuable veteran presence to the lineup and produced his highest marks in hits (97) and RBIs since 2019.

bryce harper

Bryce Harper underwent Tommy John surgery after last year’s World Series run. He made a speedy recovery to return on May 2 as a central piece in Philadelphia’s potent lineup. In 126 games, he led the Phillies in batting average (.293), OBP (.401), slugging (.499), and OPS (.900). He ranked fourth on the team in home runs (21), fifth in RBIs (72), and second in walks (80), while also adjusting to a new position. Harper made his first career start at first base on July 21 and finished the season with a .996 fielding percentage.

curt flood award nominees

phil bradley

Phil Bradley is completing his 25th year as an MLBPA special assistant, offering day-to-day support for current players. As a union leader during the tumultuous 1980s, he exhibited an uncommon ability to stand up for principle and justice. Bradley was a major participant in the 1990 negotiations that led to an MLB lockout, consistently speaking out against the clubs’ efforts to undercut salary arbitration and free agency. He joined the PA staff in January 1999 and has continued his dedication to advancing the rights of players and future players.

scott sanderson

Scott Sanderson will always be remembered for his leadership during the players’ historic 232-day strike in 1994-95. He was at the forefront of the effort to keep players informed about the issues and the importance of seeing them through to an appropriate resolution. His remarks at negotiation meetings invoked one of the union’s founding principles: that the protection of players’ rights transcends generations. Union leaders of the era consider it a seminal moment that injected new energy and clarity into players’ successful efforts to stop MLB’s attempt to break their union and implement a salary cap.