With another MLB season close to returning, that means another MVP will be named. For the NL, Ronald Acuña Jr. looks to defend that title, but it won’t be easy with the number of stars coming for the award. We’ll look at four players to watch for the 2024 NL MVP.
4 Names to Watch for the 2024 NL MVP
Ronald Acuña Jr.
The 2023 MLB NL MVP looks to defend this award this season as he opens as the favorite to win the award in the 2024 campaign. Acuña put up video game-type numbers last year where he clubbed 41 homers along with stealing 73 bags. There’s not much holding back the 26-year-old if he stays healthy which has been a question as of late. He gave all baseball a scare when he tweaked his knee a couple of weeks back in spring training. The Braves had him undergo an MRI that came back clean and Acuña himself said he would be ready to go for opening day. The 2023 MVP looks to add to his legacy as he looks to build off his historic 2023 season.
Matt Olsen
Sticking with the Atlanta, first baseman Matt Olsen is a name to watch for the NL MVP. If it wasn’t for Acuña Jr.’s historic season, Olsen would have won the MVP last year after hitting 54 homers, 139 RBIs, and had an OPS+ of 162 (100 is league average). The question with Olsen is will he be able to repeat the success he had in the past season? All advanced stats point to him being able to maintain his success as he ranked in the 99th percentile for average exit velocity and 96th percentile in barrel percentage. Entering his ninth season, the soon-to-be 30-year-old looks to recreate his previous season.
Fernando Tatis Jr.
Heading to the West Coast, Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Padres look to rebound after a tough 2023 season. After having to sit out the entire 2022 season due to a wrist injury and a PED suspension, Tatis came back and had a rough year by his standards. He hit 25 homers and drove in 78 RBIs in 635 plate appearances which was down compared to his 2021 campaign. In 2021, Tatis hit 42 homers and swiped 25 bags while having a 166 OPS+. Last season’s struggles could be a result of rust as he went over a year without playing. The 25-year-old has all the motivation to prove the doubters wrong as he looks to bounce back to his former self. He’s still a very young player and has plenty to still accomplish in his young career.
Nolan Arenado
Is it fair to call a future Hall of Famer a long shot to win the MVP? It’s a hard question to answer but sportsbooks have him as a long shot for the prestigious award. Nolan Arenado and the Cardinals had a brutal year all together last year as they failed after having high expectations for the year. Arenado himself had a below-average year compared to his normal standard. He hit 26 homers, drove in 93 RBIs, and had an OPS+ 109. His 2023 year is rough compared to his 2022 campaign where he hit 30 homers, drove in 103 RBIs, and had an OPS+ of 151 (which was the best of his career). Although he is going to turn 33 soon, we’ve seen players have career years in this stage of their career as his teammate Paul Goldschmidt won an MVP during his age-34 campaign back in 2022. An Arenado bounce-back year shouldn’t be a shock as he is still one of the top third basemen in baseball.
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