OCTOBER 2, 2023•BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
Better Than Babe: Shohei Ohtani Shatters Precedent As 2023 MLB Player Of The Year — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball AmericaFor yet another transcendent and dominant season, Shohei Ohtani is the 2023 Major League Player of the Year.
Nick Allen - Finishes season on positive noteAllen went 3-for-4 with an RBI single, a double and a run in a loss to the Angels on Sunday.
ImpactAllen heads into the offseason on a high note with his fourth three-hit game of the season and 10th multi-hit tally of the campaign overall. The 24-year-old's .221/.263/.287 slash line at the big-league level this season naturally left plenty to be desired, although Allen did slightly improve on the .207 batting average and .256 OBP he'd produced in his rookie 2022 campaign. Allen did at least seem to be making solid strides over the final week-plus, as he hit .385 (10-for-26) with a double, a triple, two RBI, two walks and four runs in his last nine games of the season.
OCTOBER 2, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Esteury Ruiz - Sets AL rookie record in stealsRuiz went 1-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Angels.
ImpactRuiz picked up his 67th steal of the year in the third inning to break the AL rookie record for steals set by Kenny Lofton in 1992. He also led the American League in steals after converting 67 of his 80 attempts on the season. His legs are all he really has going for him right now. His skills at the plate were average, after he finished slashing .254/.309/.345 with five homers, 47 RBI, 47 runs and a 20:99 BB:K in 490 plate appearances. Still, at just 24 years old, Ruiz figures to be a part of the Athletics' future plans in the outfield and has the potential to up his 2023 stolen base total next year if he can stay healthy.
OCTOBER 2, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Brent Rooker - Homers in 2023 finaleRooker went 3-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Angels.
ImpactRooker capped off his 2023 campaign on a strong note by going perfect at the plate and hitting his 30th home run of the season. The 28-year-old began the year as one of the hottest hitters in baseball before having a brutal hitting stretch during May and June. He maintained more of a steady approach after the All-Star break, slashing .246/.313/.403 with 14 homers, 25 RBI, 29 runs and a 16:80 BB:K in 223 plate appearances. Rooker was one of the few bright spots for a struggling A's team and could be a trade piece for them in the offseason.
OCTOBER 2, 2023•ROTOWIRE
JP Sears - Allows two homers in lossSears (5-14) took the loss Sunday against the Angels after giving up three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four over four innings.
ImpactSears allowed multiple home runs in a start for the first time since Aug. 26 and failed to go at least five innings for the first time since Aug. 20. He allowed 33 home runs in total this season, which was the most by an Oakland pitcher since 2013. The 27-year-old finishes 2023 with a 4.54 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 161:53 K:BB in 172.1 innings. He figures to be one of the Athletics' top returning arms in 2024.
OCTOBER 2, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Randal Grichuk - Homers in season finaleGrichuk went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Athletics.
ImpactGrichuk launched a third-inning home run off JP Sears for his 16th of the year. The 31-year-old had hit north of 20 home runs in five consecutive full seasons (he hit 12 in the 2020 shortened season) but has managed to go under that number in back-to-back years. Still, Grichuk tallied at least one hit in 23 of his final 28 games of the year and finishes slashing .267/.321/.459 with 44 RBI, 65 runs and a 29:96 BB:K in 471 plate appearances.
OCTOBER 2, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Brandon Drury - Swats two homers in winDrury went 3-for-4 with two homers, three RBI and three runs scored in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Athletics.
ImpactDrury opened things up with a first inning home run and added on with a two-run shot to right center in the fifth. He finishes the 2023 campaign slashing .262/.306/.497 with 26 homers, 83 RBI, 61 runs and a 25:136 BB:K in 523 plate appearances. His home run and RBI totals trailed only Shohei Ohtani for the team lead despite him missing seven weeks with injury. Drury signed a two-year deal with the Halos before the season, although it's possible the team ships him off to a contender with rumors swirling that a rebuild might be in order.
OCTOBER 2, 2023•ROTOWIRE
