MLB Power Rankings: 30 best first-time MVP candidates for 2023
By Tim Boyle
25) MLB Power Rankings: MVP candidate Corey Seager
How he can win the MVP: The three Texas Rangers on this list can combine to give the team a real jolt in the standings. Seager should be one of the favorites among them. He managed to have one of his better years offensively in 2022 when looking strictly at the power and run production. If he can get his batting average and OBP closer to normal, he’ll remind everyone he’s one of the best at his position in the game.
Why he won’t win the MVP: Seager may be one of those players that will either hit for great power or a nice average. Last year, he chose great power. MVPs tend to have much more balance. We should believe he can do it. Others already have which is why they should be favored.
24) MLB Power Rankings: MVP candidate Cedric Mullins
How he can win the MVP: In 2021, Cedric Mullins was a star on the rise. He took a back seat to some other Baltimore Orioles players in 2022. Nonetheless, he’s someone to watch rebound from a lackluster campaign. He was a 30/30/30 player in 2021 whose expectations remain high going forward.
Why he won’t win the MVP: Mullins might be a one-year wonder. Who knows? Voters would love to see him win it, though.
23) MLB Power Rankings: MVP candidate Adley Rutschman
How he can win the MVP: The runner-up in the 2022 American League Rookie of the Year race and the 12th place finisher in the MVP chase, Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman is going to live up to the hype. He didn’t seem fazed as a rookie last year. As tough as it is for a catcher to win the MVP, the great story of him leading the Orioles to victory is too tempting to not throw a vote his way if all things are equal.
Why he won’t win the MVP: He’s a catcher and with so many other great players yet to win the MVP, some may feel those ahead of Rutschman on this list are more deserving. They might be.
22) MLB Power Rankings: MVP candidate Tim Anderson
How he can win the MVP: First, Tim Anderson needs to stay healthy. He only played in 79 games for the Chicago White Sox last year. He did hit over .300 for the fourth straight season. Anderson’s path to an MVP will have to include a huge year from the White Sox in the standings and some outlier totals on the back of his baseball card. He might be a little short on power. Becoming the clear best leadoff hitter on a top American League team is how he wins it.
Why he won’t win the MVP: Anderson doesn’t drive in enough runs and his career high in home runs is 20. MVP candidates usual clobber baseballs. Anderson is too light of a hitter.
21) MLB Power Rankings: MVP candidate Luis Robert
How he can win the MVP: This is a real darkhorse. Luis Robert hasn’t even made it to 100 games in a single season yet. What we have seen has been pretty good. He’s well on his way to becoming one of the game’s elite center fielders. He has already won a Gold Glove. If he can give the Chicago White Sox a full year and become their leader, the MVP could become his.
Why he won’t win the MVP: We haven’t seen enough from Robert to suggest he will be as good as many hope. It will take a huge jump for him to enter the fray.