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Texas Rangers kick of awards season with multiple finalists

The team won the World Series almost a week ago and now it is time for the individual awards season as finalists are named for all of the major awards.

By Michael Sanders

Texas Rangers Victory Parade
Texas Rangers Victory Parade / Sam Hodde/GettyImages
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AL MVP

Texas has been without a finalist for this award since 2012 when Adrian Beltre finished third in the voting. It was announced on Monday night that in 2023 Texas has two finalists for the award. Corey Seager and Marcus Semien finished in the top three of voting for the MVP.

It was widely expected that Seager would be named as a finalist for the award. The World Series MVP put together the best season of his career in 2023. He finished second in the batting race with a .327 batting average. He had 33 home runs, 96 RBIs, and had a 1.013 OPS on the season. He put all of these numbers up despite missing 43 games due to some injury issues early and in the middle of the season. Seager was clearly the best player for the World Series champion Texas Rangers and it showed throughout the regular season and into the postseason.

Marcus Semien had a great season as well, but it is still a surprise he is a finalist along with Corey Seager. Semien was Mr. Durable in 2023. He played in every game in the regular season and postseason. He set a major-league record with in plate appearances combined between the regular season and postseason with 835. He led the American League in runs scored and hits. He played excellent defense at second base. He had such a great season that when he struggled throughout much of the postseason it was a huge surprise. Texas had come to count on Semien to provide offense from the top of the order. It was very much welcomed when he returned to form in the last two games of the World Series and hit two home runs after hitting no postseason homr runs prior to gave four of the World Series.

The other finalist for the award is Shohei Ohtani. The two-way sensation who is currently a free agent had a great season as well for the fourth place Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani is in the running for his second MVP award in the last three years.

The AL MVP award will be announced live on MLB Network on Thursday, November 16th.

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