MLB Power Rankings: 30 best first-time MVP candidates for 2023
By Tim Boyle
10) MLB Power Rankings: MVP candidate Pete Alonso
How he can win the MVP: History is against Pete Alonso. No New York Mets player has ever won the MVP. Will he be the first? Alonso finished eighth in the voting last year with numbers that in other seasons would have won him the award. Alonso is getting better and becoming a purer hitter. To win the MVP, an uptick in batting average and maybe a few more dingers can do it. Plus, the Mets have to be really good again.
Why he won’t win the MVP: Alonso’s batting average is going to hold him back. When there’s a player like Paul Goldschmidt challenging for the Triple Crown, it’s tough to overtake him. Unless Alonso can run away from the rest of the pack in home runs or RBI, he’ll have to settle for a top 10 finish again.
9) MLB Power Rankings: MVP candidate Francisco Lindor
How he can win the MVP: Francisco Lindor finished right behind Pete Alonso in last year’s MVP vote at number nine. It was a huge rebound season after a tough year one in New York in 2021. Lindor has the defensive skills to push him ahead of some other contenders. Add in one more elite statistic to the back of his baseball card and he can make New York Mets history.
Why he won’t win the MVP: Lindor’s success will involve Alonso heavily. Unless the Mets can pull away from the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies, it’s going to be difficult for Lindor to stand out as a clear cut MVP candidate.
8) MLB Power Rankings: MVP candidate Nolan Arenado
How he can win the MVP: Nolan Arenado wins the MVP next year if he does what he always does. Everyone else also needs to take a year off from producing. Arenado already has six seasons of finishing in the top 10 of the MVP. Last year, he finished third for the second time. Arenado could easily be a favorite around the league as a first-time MVP candidate. He isn’t, though, for one very particular reason.
Why he won’t win the MVP: If Arenado hasn’t won it yet, will he ever? Three home run titles, a pair of RBI titles, and 10 Gold Gloves in as many chances haven’t been enough. It may seem like Arenado isn’t getting any respect in this week’s MLB Power Rankings. Look at how often he has been overlooked in the MVP race. That’s disrespect.
7) MLB Power Rankings: MVP candidate Julio Rodriguez
How he can win the MVP: Something about Julio Rodriguez screams “future MVP.” Has the future already arrived? The Seattle Mariners outfielder won Rookie of the Year and a Silver Slugger. He was seventh in the MVP race, too. Rodriguez is the players voters are eager to see become the next Ken Griffey Jr.
Why he won’t win the MVP: A sophomore slump could get in Rodriguez’s way. If the Mariners don’t improve, we could also see him fail to win an MVP. He’ll get one someday. It might just have to wait.
6) MLB Power Rankings: MVP candidate Ronald Acuña Jr.
How he can win the MVP: The Atlanta Braves will be good. Ronald Acuña Jr.’s presence will be one of the reasons why. The star outfielder missed a lot of time over the last two years. We should fully expect him to come back to former and be right there in the MVP race. He has speed and power. It’s one of the most lethal combinations in the MVP race.
Why he won’t win the MVP: The Braves have an even better MVP candidate on their roster.