2023 MLB Power Rankings: Who are the favorites for the NL MVP? (June Edition 1.0)
Too early to think about the MVP?
It’s still early in the 2023 MLB season, but it’s never too premature to talk about players who are standing out across the league. But what if the season ended today? Who would be the favorites for the National League Most Valuable Player award? Let’s take a look at the five players who we believe would be the top contenders now that we are a third of the way through the season.
Related: 2023 MLB Power Rankings: Who are the favorites for the AL MVP?
5. Paul Goldschmidt
Three of the five players that made the last edition of this list are back, and one of those individuals is Paul Goldschmidt. The reigning NL MVP hit .272/.380/.515 with six home runs in May as the Cardinals clawed its back in the NL Central race. On the season, Goldschmidt is eighth in the NL in OPS (.905), eith in hits (61), and sixth in extra base hits (27).
Goldschmidt stands a good chance to crack the 30 home run marker for the eighth time in his career and the Cardinals will need every bit of his power moving down the stretch.
4. Jorge Soler
Marlins OF Jorge Soler‘s first season in Miami did not go well. This season, however, has been a different story. The 31-year-old slugger cracked 17 home runs — five of which came in five consecutive games between May 23-27 — across his first 54 games of the season, already four more than his total from 2022 total and tied for second in the National League alongside Matt Olson and Max Muncy.
Soler also had 24 extra base hits and 35 runs batted in for a Marlins team that entered play on June 1 tied for second in the NL East and in a Wild Card spot.
3. Pete Alonso
Mets first baseman Pete Alonso may only have a .238 batting average through his first 56 games of the 2023 season, but that figure doesn’t tell the whole story. The 28-year-old leads the NL in runs batted in (46) and all of Major League Baseball in home runs (20) for a Mets team that went 29-27 over the first two months of the season.
The Amazins’ have had some trouble generating offense this season, but Alonso has been anything but a problem for the Mets.
2. Freddie Freeman
The Dodgers held the top spot in the NL West on June 1, thanks in large part to the contributions of former NL MVP Freddie Freeman. Freeman leads all NL hitters in his (79) and the Dodgers infielder is just one behind Bo Bichette for the league lead. The 33-year-old’s cranked 10 home runs and 35 RBI for the Dodgers, and his 1.008 OPS is best among all National League hitters.
To us, the NL MVP award is a two-man race. However, it will be very hard to unseat the individual who holds the top spot.
1. Ronald Acuna Jr.
Yet again, Braves OF Ronald Acuna Jr. is the top player on our NL MVP rankings list. The 25-year-old is on pace for a historic season this year. Acuna Jr. batted .324 with 11 home runs, 22 stolen bases, 31 runs batted in, and 48 runs scored for an Atlanta team that sat four games ahead of Miami and the Mets entering play on June 1.
Acuna Jr. may not hit his lofty goal of 40 home runs and 60 stolen bases — he’s currently on pace for about 33 home runs — this season. However, he is on pace to take home his first NL MVP trophy.
Note: This list is as of June 1. It will be updated throughout the year.
