Breaking: 2023 Braves broke a lot of records, headlined by 3 stars

admin | April 11, 2024 | Other Clubs | No Comments

The 2023 Braves shattered numerous records, led by Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, and Austin Riley.

However, their lights were so bright that one of the league’s top run producers went unrecognized.

Marcell Ozuna was once one of baseball’s most sought-after hitters, but injuries and poor decisions wrecked his career. Now he’s back, and opposition pitchers must face a player who is healthy, determined, and more dangerous than ever.

Last Sunday, the Atlanta Braves honored hitting coach Kevin Seitzer with the Coach of the Year Award, Acuña Jr. with the Hank Aaron Award, Riley with his second Silver Slugger Award, and Matt Olson with his first. Acuña and Riley were named to the 2023 All-MLB Team First Team, while Ozzie Albies made the 2023 All-MLB Team Second Team.

Voters forgot about Ozuna from the Braves

The NL had five players with over 100 games and 440 PA as a DH; the best of those was the Braves Marcell Ozuna, who hit 40 homers and batted .279/.352/.569/.921 in 520 PA as DH.

Bryce Harper came to the plate 394 times as a DH, hit only 11 homers, and batted .297/.398/.471 with a .870 OPS and136 wRC+. He ended up winning the Silver Slugger as DH, and the post announcing the winners referenced his season line total (at first base and DH) of 21 homers and .293/.401/.499 with a .900 OPS and 142 wRC+. It doesn’t mention any other contender, but it does give a subtle hint of why Harper won.

Despite not making his debut until May and experiencing a power slump, Harper managed to hit 21 home runs and 51 extra-base hits. He went 37 games without a home run.But when he broke his drought on July 15, he looked like the player we all know.” (My emphasis added.)

Harper wasn’t the best DH in 2023; he won because he’s Bryce Harper, and “…he looked like the player we all know.”

I understand Harper is one of the game’s greatest hitters, and the game’s elite always win these honors when it’s a close race with no constraints, but Ozuna had an equally impressive season.