Players Choice Award winners earned admiration of peers

How do MLB players evaluate their teammates’ and opponents’ performance on the field? The Players Choice Awards, presented annually by the MLB Players Association, offers a glimpse into players’ minds during the exciting, record-breaking 2023 season.

As revealed Thursday on ESPN, here are the results of the 2023 Players Choice Awards.

Player of the Year and Outstanding National League Player

Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves
Acuña did something in 2023 never seen before, posting the first 40-homer, 70-steal season in MLB history. The man at the top of the lineup for the juggernaut Braves, Acuña -- fully recovered from his 2021 ACL tear -- turned in a .337/.416/.596 batting line, and an NL-best 1.012 OPS. The Atlanta outfielder finished the season with 41 home runs and 73 stolen bases.

Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award

Marcus Semien, Rangers
Part of the MLBPA’s executive subcommittee as a player representative, Semien was nominated for the third straight year and won for the second time in three seasons. The Rangers shortstop takes part in charitable efforts to provide food to those in need during the holidays and also mentors youth baseball programs. A two-time winner of the MLB Players Alumni Association’s Heart and Hustle Award, Semien has been an advocate for increased diversity in baseball through his work with the Players Alliance and Coaching Corps.

The Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award is presented each year to the player “whose leadership most inspires others to higher levels of achievement.” It is named in honor of the MLBPA’s first full-time executive director, who from 1966-82 was instrumental in the process of establishing and implementing free agency and making the MLBPA one of the most cohesive labor unions in the country.

Curt Flood Award

Phil Bradley
Bradley is completing his 25th season as an MLBPA special assistant, assisting current players and offering day-to-day support. He was named the winner of the 2023 Curt Flood Award, commemorating Flood’s historic judicial challenge to baseball’s reserve system in the 1970s, which led to the establishment of free agency.

Bradley had an eight-year MLB career from 1983 to 1990 with the Mariners, Phillies, Orioles and White Sox, including an All-Star appearance in 1985. He was a union leader during the 1980s and was a key player in the 1990 negotiations that led to a lockout. He joined the MLBPA staff in January 1999.

American League Outstanding Player

Shohei Ohtani, Angels
Ohtani played his last game of the 2023 season on Sept. 3 before undergoing elbow surgery, but the two-way Angels star still put together an incredible year on the mound and at the plate. Ohtani hit .304/.412/.654, leading the AL in home runs with 44, despite the time he missed. He went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts on the mound, striking out 167 batters in 132 innings -- a 31.5% K-rate. The Major League leader in bWAR with 10.0, Ohtani had his finest season in that department, and his efforts earned him recognition from American League players.

NL Outstanding Pitcher

Blake Snell, Padres
Snell owned a 5.40 ERA heading into his May 25 start, but for the rest of the season, he pitched like a bona fide ace. The left-hander delivered a 1.20 ERA over his final 23 starts, leading the Majors with a 2.25 mark and finishing second in the NL with 234 strikeouts. Snell’s .181 opponent batting average led all qualified MLB starters, and he made a career-high 32 starts for San Diego.

NL Outstanding Rookie

Corbin Carroll, D-backs
The dynamic D-backs outfielder flashed his speed and skill in his 32-game debut season in 2022, and he built on both during an incredible rookie year. Carroll became the first rookie in AL/NL history to hit at least 25 homers and steal 50 or more bases, finishing with 54 swipes for a speedy Arizona team. The 23-year-old was a catalyst at the top of the order as the D-backs returned to the World Series for the first time since 2001.

NL Comeback Player

Cody Bellinger, Cubs
Bellinger bounced back after a few down years with the Dodgers, signing a one-year deal with the Cubs and putting up a stellar season for Chicago. The 2017 NL Rookie of the Year and 2019 NL MVP batted just .203/.272/.376 from 2020-2022 with L.A., but he hit .307 with an .881 OPS in 2023. Bellinger finished with 26 homers and 20 steals and proved to be a plus defender in center field.

AL Outstanding Pitcher

Gerrit Cole, Yankees
Cole had one of the very best seasons in his 11-year career, leading the American League in innings pitched (209) and ERA (2.63) and striking out 222 batters. He pitched an average of 6 1/3 innings per start, the fourth-best mark among qualified MLB starters. Cole is the favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award, which would be his first Cy Young honor in either league.

AL Outstanding Rookie

Gunnar Henderson, Orioles
After a strong 34-game showing in 2022, Henderson was back for more in 2023. The Orioles shortstop led all MLB rookies with 28 home runs, compiling an .814 OPS and scoring 100 runs for Baltimore. The AL Rookie of the Month for June has a good chance to win the 2023 AL Rookie of the Year Award.

AL Comeback Player

Liam Hendriks, White Sox
Hendriks made an inspiring return to the mound May 29 after winning a battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The White Sox closer made five appearances in 2023, recording one save, before being placed on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. Hendriks underwent Tommy John surgery in August, but he plans to pitch in 2024.