Aaron Judge Clinches AL MVP Title

Bassyonni

ago 2 hours

Aaron Judge has secured the American League MVP title for the third time in four seasons. His recent achievement solidifies his place among the elite in Major League Baseball history as the thirteenth player to win the award three times. This year’s MVP race was one of the closest contests, highlighting the outstanding performances of both Judge and fellow candidate Cal Raleigh.

A Historic Competition for the AL MVP Title

The voting for the AL MVP was highly competitive, with Judge receiving 17 first-place votes compared to Raleigh’s 13. The narrow vote could have resulted in a tie, echoing past occurrences in league history. The last co-MVP winners were Keith Hernandez and Willie Stargell, who split the NL award in 1979. This year’s race was a display of exceptional talent from both players.

Judge’s Exceptional Season

Aaron Judge’s offensive statistics were remarkable in 2023. He led the league with:

Batting average: .311
On-base percentage (OBP): .457
Slugging percentage: .688

Additionally, he topped the AL with 124 walks and 137 runs scored. Judge hit 53 home runs and drove in 114 runs, demonstrating his offensive prowess. His metrics indicate he was a more valuable hitter than Raleigh, despite Raleigh posting impressive power statistics.

Cal Raleigh’s Historic Performance

Cal Raleigh made history as he became the first catcher in MLB history to hit over 50 home runs in a single season. He finished the year with 60 homers, ranking among the top all-time for players at any position and trailing only Judge’s record from 2022 and Roger Maris’ 1961 season. Raleigh also led the American League with 125 RBIs and recorded a batting line of .247/.359/.589 across 705 plate appearances.

A Close Call for MVP Honors

This season, FanGraphs credited Judge with 10.1 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), while Raleigh followed with 9.1 WAR. Baseball Reference showed an even greater gap, with Judge at 9.7 and Raleigh at 7.4. Both players played key roles in guiding their respective teams to the postseason, with the Yankees earning a Wild Card spot and the Mariners winning the AL West.

The competition among MVP candidates did not end with Judge and Raleigh. José Ramírez from the Guardians secured a solid third-place finish, marking his sixth top-five finish overall. He concluded the season with a .283/.360/.503 batting line and 30 home runs, contributing significantly to the Guardians’ success in the AL Central.

Final Thoughts on the AL MVP Race

This year’s AL MVP race showcased the incredible talent in Major League Baseball. Though Judge emerged victorious by a narrow margin, both he and Raleigh had seasons that will be remembered. With his third MVP title, Judge is cementing his legacy and setting sights on the Hall of Fame. Raleigh’s historic season also positions him among the sport’s superstars, having signed a six-year, $105 million extension early in the season, indicating a promising future ahead in Seattle.