4. NL MVP Power Rankings: Luis Arraez, Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins swung a trade with the Minnesota Twins prior to the 2023 season in order to bolster their lineup. It’s safe to say that the Miami front office feels pretty good about their acquisition.
Luis Arraez is threatening to do something that we haven’t seen since Ted Williams was playing – hit over .400. His chances have taken a hit in recent days, as Arraez’s batting average dipped below .400 over the weekend.
Batting average isn’t all the rage it used to be. Today’s game centers more around power and slugging, but a hitter like Arraez cannot be ignored. Just as the case is with the aforementioned Zac Gallen, team success matters, and the Marlins are competing in the very crowded NL East.
3. NL MVP Power Rankings: Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves
If there’s one player on this list that could vault to the front of the line rather quickly, it’s Ronald Acuña Jr. The outfielder is the best player on the best team in the National League, though his teammate Sean Murphy should be garnering plenty of attention as well.
Acuña Jr. now appears to be fully healthy following the knee injury he suffered in 2021. The slugger currently trails two of his teammates (Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies) for the team lead in home runs, but his .965 OPS is third-best in the National League this season.
As Ronald Acuña Jr. goes, so go the Atlanta Braves, who are currently tied for the best record in the NL. The most impressive stat for Acuña Jr. at the moment may be his strikeout-rate. After a career that’s seen the 25-year-old strikeout about once every four at-bats, Acuña Jr.’s strikeout-rate currently sits at 13.2-percent according to FanGraphs.