He again sweeps over the Texas Rangers’ duo for AL MVP.
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Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien and shortstop Corey Seager were unable to overtake Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani for the American League MVP award, which was presented on Thursday.
In fact, it wasn’t close. Ohtani claimed each of the 30 first-place votes, in spite of missing the season’s final month due to a UCL injury. The award is given for regular-season performance. But, by then, Ohtani had done enough.
Ohtani finished 2023 with a slash line of .304/.412/.654/1.066 with 44 home runs and 95 RBI, with his home run total leading the American League. As a pitcher he went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA with 167 strikeouts and 55 walks.
He won the MVP award for the first time in 2021. He is set to be a free agent, with the Rangers rumored to be a suitor.
Seager came in second and Semien came in third in voting. They were finalist for the award, the first time two Rangers were finalists in the same year. Semien was a finalist for the third time, while Seager was a finalist in 2016.
Semien and Seager were key cogs in helping the Rangers win their first World Series.
Semien slashed .276/.348/.478/.826 with 29 home runs, 29 doubles, 100 RBI and 122 runs, leading the AL in hits (185), runs, plate appearances (a club-record 753) and at-bats (670).
Seager slashed .327/.390/.623/1.013 with 33 home runs, 42 doubles, and 96 RBI, ranking among AL leaders in doubles (first), batting average (second), OPS (second), slugging percentage (second), extra-base hits (tied for second, 75), home runs (tied for fifth) and RBI (tied for 10th).
