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Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Picking favorites: Three American League players who should walk away with awards in 2023

By Michael Carpenter | Last updated 10/10/23

The award races in the American League were a little tighter than they were in the National League, but at the end of the season, there were clear favorites who stood out despite the stiff competition they faced throughout the 2023 season.

Here are the favorites to bring home the hardware in the AL.

Most Valuable Player

Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels, designated hitter/starting pitcher

.304/.412/.654, 44 home runs, 95 RBI, 20 stolen bases

10-5, 3.14 ERA, 167 strikeouts, 132 IP

Arguably the best player on the planet, Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani put up another historic season in 2023.

The AL leader in home runs despite only playing in 135 games with 44, he was primed to set a career-high before hitting the injured list. With an elbow injury forcing him off the mound and then an oblique injury ending his season at the plate, the 29-year-old star is still the clear favorite for the AL MVP Award.

His main competition for the award is Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager, but with multiple stints on the injured list and a cold stretch to end the season for Seager, it all but sealed the deal for Ohtani to win his second AL MVP since 2021.

It was a HISTORIC 2023 season for Shohei Ohtani #MLB | #GoHalos pic.twitter.com/6ZrRHCH3UI
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) September 21, 2023

Cy Young

Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees, pitcher

15-4, 2.63 ERA, 222 strikeouts, 209 IP

In his fourth year with the New York Yankees, pitcher Gerrit Cole had his best season with the club in 2023 and is likely to finally bring home his first career Cy Young Award after finishing as the runner-up twice.

Despite the down season by the Yankees, Cole was stellar on the mound, giving them the opportunity to win nearly every time he made a start.

The AL leader in innings pitched, ERA and shutouts, Cole is showing no signs of slowing down as he enters the later stages of his prime.

With Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman, Minnesota Twins pitcher Sonny Gray and Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo providing tough competition, the Yankees would have had their first sub-.500 season since 1992 without Cole.

Gerrit Cole, Shutout.

And, Cy Young. pic.twitter.com/YLurrLBgm6
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 28, 2023

In his four years with the Yankees, the 33-year-old has posted a 51-23 record with a 3.08 ERA, including 816 strikeouts over 664 innings pitched.

Rookie of the Year

Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles, shortstop/third baseman

.255/.325/.489, 28 home runs, 82 RBI, 10 stolen bases

The favorite to win the award entering 2023, Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson spent the last few months of the season pulling away from the pack despite a horrific start.

Slashing .201/.332/.370 with five home runs and 14 RBI in his first 50 games, he turned it around at the plate, smashing 23 home runs and 68 RBI over his last 100 games of 2023.

The 22-year-old played a major part in the Orioles having the best record in the AL and their first playoff appearance since 2016 and did so hitting leadoff a majority of the time.

Gunnar Henderson gets the Bird Bath going early with his 28th homer of the season. pic.twitter.com/SLsrYvYlbb
— MLB (@MLB) September 26, 2023

A member of an organization stacked with young talent, Henderson figures to have a long career with the Orioles and will be a cornerstone they are able to build a playoff contender around in Baltimore.

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