MLB Awards: Houston Astros Star Listed as Top-5 AL MVP Candidate
Houston Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker has never placed higher than 15th in MVP voting... until now. Tucker was recently listed as a top-5 AL MVP candidate on Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies.
Tucker, 26, was selected by the Astros with the fifth overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft and made his Major League debut in 2018.
In 2023, the outfielder enjoyed what may have been his finest professional season. Tucker slashed .284/.369/.886 and nearly posted a 30-30 season, tallying 29 home runs and 30 stolen bases, while driving 112 RBI over 157 games.
But was that enough to earn him the MVP?
Only two Houston players have ever won this award.
Jose Altuve won it in 2017, and back when the Astros were in the National League, Jeff Bagwell was named MVP in the lockout-shortened 1994 season.
Tucker came in fourth on our top-5 candidates list.
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager, Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz and Los Angeles Angels pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani finished in front of him. Rounding out the list is Baltimore Orioles' star catcher Adley Rutschman.
Here is a look at the top-5 list, with key statistics included:
5) Adley Rutschman, C, Baltimore Orioles
154 G, .277/.374/.809, 20 HR, 80 RBI, 1 SB, 128 OPS+, 4.3 WAR
4) Kyle Tucker, OF, Houston Astros
157 G, .284/.369/.886, 29 HR, 112 RBI, 30 SB, 142 OPS+, 5.4 WAR
3) Corey Seager, SS, Texas Rangers
119 G, .327/.390/1.013, 33 HR, 96 RBI, 2 SB, 170 OPS+, 6.9 WAR
2) Yandy Diaz, 1B, Tampa Bay Rays
137 G, .330/.410/.932, 22 HR, 78 RBI, 0 SB, 158 OPS+, 5.2 WAR
1) Shohei Ohtani, SP and DH, Los Angeles Angels
135 G, .304/.412/1.066, 44 HR, 95 RBI, 20 SB, 184 OPS+, 10.0 WAR
23 G, 23 GS, 10-5, 3.14 ERA, 132.0 IP, 142 ERA+, 4.00 FIP, 1.061 WHIP, 11.4 SO9, 3.04 SO/W
The 2023 AL MVP Award winner will be announced sometime after the World Series wraps up in November. Ohtani is expected to win the award for the second time in three years.
