A part of what makes baseball one of the best are the feats and superb stats accruing left and proper, each single day. We chronicle them all year long, however there’s no higher time than earlier than the calendar flips to have a look again.
It’s arduous to choose only one stat per group, particularly after one other season that gave us a lot to select from. No group or participant might be summed up in a single stat alone, however data can entertain and provides us perception into the season that was. In case you’re searching for extra in your favourite groups or gamers, try the MLB milestones that had been reached in 2023 and be looking out for the largest tales of the ‘23 season, arising on New Yr’s Eve.
To wrap up the yr and get everybody prepared for 2024, right here’s a take a look at one superb stat for every of the 30 groups from this previous season.
Blue Jays: Kevin Gausman’s second season in Toronto was even higher than his first. The Jays’ ace completed third for AL Cy Younger and led the AL with 237 strikeouts. It was the fifth time a Blue Jays pitcher led his league in strikeouts. Robbie Ray did so in 2021, as did ‘08 A.J. Burnett and Roger Clemens in 1997-98. Gausman’s finest second of the yr got here pregame, although, when his 4-year-old daughter Sadie threw out a primary pitch to him in June.
Orioles: The Orioles constructed on their 2022 enchancment in an enormous approach, profitable 101 video games and incomes the AL East crown. But once more, Adley Rutschman was a powerful contributor to Baltimore’s success, with a 128 OPS+. Rutschman is the primary catcher in MLB historical past with a minimum of a 125 OPS+ in every of the primary two seasons of his profession (min. 400 plate appearances in every).
He made it clear from Recreation 1 what was to come back in ‘23, reaching base six instances, together with 5 hits. Every was a file for a catcher on Opening Day (since a minimum of 1901) — and he was off to the races.
Rays: Yandy Díaz had a profession yr, profitable the primary batting title in Rays historical past. He hit .330, setting a Rays file for batting common in a professional season, surpassing Jason Bartlett’s .320 in 2009. How’d he do it? Hitting the ball arduous and avoiding strikeouts. He was considered one of 4 certified gamers within the eighty fifth percentile or higher in each strikeout charge and hard-hit charge in 2023, together with Ronald Acuña Jr., Mookie Betts and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Crimson Sox: Rafael Devers turned 27 years outdated in October, and he continues to place himself into the Crimson Sox franchise file books. Boston’s star slugger hit 33 homers, his second most in any season of his profession and his third 30-homer yr general.
His three 30-homer seasons are tied for essentially the most by any participant in Crimson Sox historical past by means of his age-26 marketing campaign, with Jim Rice and Ted Williams. It’s additionally tied for the third-most such seasons as a 3rd baseman by means of his age-26 season, behind solely Eddie Mathews (six) and Manny Machado (4).
Yankees: Gerrit Cole had a stellar 2023, main the AL with a 2.63 ERA en path to a unanimous Cy Younger Award. He was the primary Yankees pitcher to steer his league in ERA since Rudy Might in 1980. Cole was the sixth Yankees pitcher to win Cy Younger and first since Roger Clemens in 2001. He was the second of these to win unanimously, becoming a member of Ron Guidry in 1978. In ‘22, Cole set a Yankees single-season file with 257 strikeouts. On July 16, he set a franchise mark together with his twenty fourth sport with a minimum of 10 strikeouts since becoming a member of the Yankees, surpassing Guidry’s 23. By the top of the season, he’d pushed the file to 26.
The Naylors grew to become the sixth pair of brothers to homer in the identical inning since 1900, in keeping with the Elias Sports activities Bureau. They joined the Uptons (April 6, 2013, and April 23, 2013, Braves), Billy and Cal Ripken (Sept. 15, 1990, and Might 28, 1996, Orioles), Hank and Tommie Aaron (July 12, 1962, Milwaukee Braves), Lloyd and Paul Waner (Sept. 4, 1927, and Sept. 15, 1938, Pirates) and Rick and Wes Ferrell (July 19, 1933, Rick with Boston and Wes with Cleveland). For the Ferrells, Rick’s homer got here in opposition to his brother Wes.
Royals: Bobby Witt Jr.’s energy and pace continued to differentiate his sport in his sophomore season. After tallying 20 residence runs and 30 stolen bases in Yr 1, he had 30 and 49, respectively, in his second marketing campaign. Witt grew to become the primary participant in MLB historical past to have a minimum of 20 residence runs and a minimum of 30 stolen bases in every of the primary two seasons of his profession. He’s considered one of simply six shortstops with a 30-30 season, together with 2023 Francisco Lindor, 2008 Hanley Ramírez, 2007 Jimmy Rollins, 1998 Alex Rodriguez and 1996 Barry Larkin.
Tigers: The Tigers threw a no-hitter on July 8, as Matt Manning (6 2/3 innings), Jason Foley (1 1/3 innings) and Alex Lange (1 inning) mixed to carry the Blue Jays hitless. It was the twentieth mixed no-hitter in MLB historical past and ninth no-hitter in Tigers historical past. It was the Tigers’ second no-hitter prior to now three seasons, after Spencer Turnbull authored a solo effort on Might 18, 2021, in opposition to the Mariners. It was their first at residence since a 24-year-old Justin Verlander no-hit the Brewers on June 12, 2007, the one different no-hitter to happen at Comerica Park.
Twins: We have to discuss Royce Lewis. Over a stretch from late August to mid-September, Lewis grew to become the primary participant to hit 4 grand slams in a span of 18 video games or fewer, in keeping with Elias. The prior shortest span through which a participant had hit 4 grand slams was 39 video games, by Don Mattingly in 1987. The fourth slam in that stretch marked his sixteenth profession residence run, fifth profession slam and fourth of the season. He grew to become the primary participant with 5 grand slams inside his first 16 profession residence runs.
White Sox: It was a profession yr for Luis Robert Jr., who was an All-Star for the primary time. Amongst his career-highs had been 38 residence runs and 20 stolen bases. He grew to become the second participant with a minimum of 30 homers and 20 stolen bases in a season in White Sox historical past, becoming a member of 2001 Magglio Ordóñez. He was additionally the third Cuban-born participant with a minimum of one such season, together with José Canseco (1998, ‘91 and ‘88) and Rafael Palmeiro (‘93).
Angels: Although Shohei Ohtani received’t be sporting an Angels uniform subsequent yr, we have to acknowledge what he did in that jersey this previous season. On July 27 in Detroit, he threw his first profession shutout within the opening sport of a doubleheader. Then, within the second sport, he went yard twice. Ohtani grew to become the primary participant with a house run in a single finish of a doubleheader and a shutout within the different, per Elias.
He was the fifth participant with two homers and a shutout on the identical day, with the opposite 4 doing so in a single sport every. He joined Sonny Siebert (on Sept 2, 1971), Rick Clever (in his no-hitter on June 23, 1971!), Pedro Ramos (on Might 30, 1962) and Milt Pappas (on Aug. 27, 1961).
Astros: Framber Valdez threw the sixteenth no-hitter in Astros historical past on Aug. 1 and was fairly environment friendly alongside the best way. The left-hander’s 93 pitches had been the third fewest in a no-hitter since pitch counts have been tracked (1988), behind solely Darryl Kile’s 83 on Sept. 8, 1993, additionally for the Astros, and David Cone’s 88 in his good sport on July 18, 1999.
It was the fifth no-no managed by Dusty Baker, tied for fourth most in MLB historical past with Fielder Jones, Connie Mack, Leo Durocher and Bruce Bochy, in keeping with Elias. Solely Walter Alston (seven), A.J. Hinch (six) and John McGraw (six) managed extra.
A’s: The speedy Esteury Ruiz made his mark on the 2023 season, swiping 67 luggage. That set a file for essentially the most stolen bases by an AL rookie, passing Kenny Lofton’s 66 from 1992. General, it was the fifth-most stolen bases by a rookie since 1900. Vince Coleman had 110 in 1985 for the Cardinals, Benny Kauff had 75 in 1914 for the Federal League’s Indianapolis Hoosiers, Juan Samuel had 72 in 1984 for the Phillies and Tim Raines had 71 in 1981 for the Expos.
Mariners: Julio Rodríguez tallied 4 straight video games with a minimum of 4 hits from Aug. 16-19, tying 1925 Milt Inventory for essentially the most consecutive four-hit video games since a minimum of 1901. J-Rod had 17 hits within the 4 video games, essentially the most in a four-game span since a minimum of 1901, in addition to 5 stolen bases.
Previous to Rodríguez’s streak, essentially the most hits in a four-game span with a minimum of 5 stolen bases (since a minimum of 1901) was 13, by 1974 Bake McBride, 1927 Ty Cobb and 1907 Cobb.
Seattle’s budding celebrity surpassed that, after which some.
Rangers: What a turnaround it was over current years for the Rangers to change into World Collection champions in 2023. The Rangers misplaced 102 video games in 2021. Solely two different groups have received the World Collection two years after dropping a minimum of 100 video games: the 1969 Mets and 1914 Braves. Every additionally did so two years after a 101-loss season.
Braves: It was a record-setting season for Ronald Acuña Jr., who established the 40-homer, 70-stolen base membership on his solution to unanimous NL MVP honors. He grew to become the third Venezuelan-born participant to win MVP, becoming a member of 2017 Jose Altuve and 2012-13 Miguel Cabrera. We will’t affirm this one definitively, however he needs to be both the one or considered one of a really choose few to homer the day he was named MVP.
The evening of the announcement, he then performed in a sport for Tiburones de La Guaira, his Venezuelan Winter League group. And naturally he went yard.
Phillies: In his closing 48 video games, after he first earned a standing ovation from Phillies followers in early August, Trea Turner hit .337 and slugged .668. He hit 16 residence runs in that span. Two of these got here within the eighth inning on Aug. 19. Turner grew to become simply the third Phillies participant with two homers in a single body, becoming a member of Von Hayes on June 11, 1985 (within the first inning) and Andy Seminick on June 2, 1949 (within the eighth inning).
Marlins: Luis Arraez did it once more, profitable a batting title for the second straight season. In taking the 2022 AL batting title with the Twins and the ‘23 NL crown with Miami, Arraez grew to become the second participant since 1900 to win a batting title in each leagues, becoming a member of DJ LeMahieu. However LeMahieu didn’t do it in consecutive seasons, as Arraez did. Arraez had seven four-hit video games, essentially the most in a season in Marlins historical past, surpassing 2007 Hanley Ramírez’s 5.
Mets: Kodai Senga’s debut season in MLB lived as much as the hype, as did his oft-discussed signature pitch, the ghost fork. In 163 opposing at-bats ending on the pitch, he allowed only a .110 batting common and .147 slugging proportion. He induced a whopping 59.5% whiff charge on swings in opposition to the pitch, the very best for any starter in opposition to a single pitch kind in a season within the pitch-tracking period (since 2008, min. 200 swings at pitch kind).
Brewers: When the Brewers clinched a playoff spot on Sept. 22 in Miami, they did so in decisive trend — profitable by 15 runs. That was tied with 2018 Cleveland for the third-largest win by a group on the day they clinched a playoff berth, in keeping with Elias. Solely the 2001 Braves and 1996 Yankees had greater such wins, by 17 runs every. Rowdy Tellez pitched the ninth, turning into the primary place participant to complete a sport on the mound for a group the day they clinched a playoff spot.
Cardinals: One other yr, one other 25-homer season for Nolan Arenado. With 26 residence runs in 2023, Arenado has now tallied a minimum of 25 in eight straight full seasons. His eight profession 25-homer seasons when enjoying primarily third base that yr are tied for fifth most, behind solely Mike Schmidt (12), Eddie Mathews (12), Aramis Ramírez (10) and Adrián Beltré (9).
Cubs: The Cubs mixed to attain 36 runs throughout two video games on Aug. 1-2, with 20 within the first sport and 16 within the latter. That was their most runs in a two-game span since 1897. It was the third time since 1900 that the Cubs scored a minimum of 15 runs in consecutive video games, additionally executed in 1930 (three straight) and 2003.
Pirates: Defensive standout Ke’Bryan Hayes received the NL Gold Glove Award at third base, turning into the primary Pirates participant to win a Gold Glove on the sizzling nook. He had 17 outs above common, 4 greater than some other third baseman in MLB and 6 greater than the following Nationwide Leaguer on that checklist. He additionally made arduous contact, a 95+ mph exit velocity, on 21.6% of his swings. That was the fifth-highest charge of swings producing arduous contact (min 350 batted balls), behind solely Ronald Acuña Jr. (24.1%), Juan Soto (23.7%), Yandy Díaz (23.3%) and Mookie Betts (22.7%).
Reds: Within the second sport of a doubleheader on Aug. 13, the dynamic Elly De La Cruz hit his tenth residence run of his profession. He entered the sport with 17 stolen bases, turning into the second-fastest participant by video games performed to achieve 10 profession residence runs and 15 profession stolen bases since 1900. De La Cruz wanted 58 video games to achieve these marks, another than Barry Bonds, who obtained there in 57.
And we have to point out his arm. De La Cruz’s 99.8 mph relay throw on July 20 was the quickest tracked help by an infielder tracked by Statcast (since 2015), and he had the second-and-third-fastest, too. He had eight 95.0+ mph assists as an infielder, twice as many as anybody else in a profession below Statcast (Fernando Tatis Jr.: 4).
Dodgers: The Mookie and Freddie present. Betts was tied for first in WAR, per FanGraphs, amongst place gamers this season, whereas Freeman ranked third. The Dodgers grew to become the sixth group within the final 50 seasons with two gamers within the high three amongst place gamers in WAR in a season.
They joined the 2010 Rays (Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria), 1996 Mariners (Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr.), 1988 Crimson Sox (Mike Greenwell and Wade Boggs), 1982 Expos (Andre Dawson and Gary Carter) and 1974 Reds (Joe Morgan and Johnny Bench).
D-backs: Corbin Carroll did rather a lot this yr — from beginning the All-Star Recreation in his hometown of Seattle to serving to lead the D-backs to a World Collection look to profitable NL Rookie of the Yr unanimously. He was the ninth participant to be an All-Star and play within the World Collection the yr he received Rookie of the Yr, becoming a member of 2017 Cody Bellinger, 2010 Neftali Feliz, 2008 Evan Longoria, 2003 Dontrelle Willis, 1981 Fernando Valenzuela, 1975 Fred Lynn, 1962 Tom Tresh and 1949 Don Newcombe. Of that crew, solely Carroll and Valenzuela began that All-Star Recreation as a rookie.
Giants: Logan Webb had a powerful season, main the Majors in innings pitched at 216 with a 3.25 ERA as he completed second within the NL Cy Younger race. It was the fourth time because the membership moved to San Francisco {that a} Giants pitcher led MLB in innings, together with 1969-70 (Gaylord Perry) and 1963 (Juan Marichal). A lot of Webb’s innings had been tense, too, because the group scored both zero or one run whole in 12 of his begins, tied for the third-most such begins by a Giants pitcher in single season (since 1901), behind solely 1968 Ray Sadecki (16) and 1933 Carl Hubbell (13).
He had performed simply 24 profession video games within the outfield getting into ’23, the fourth fewest getting into that season at a Gold Glove-winning place for a non-rookie (excluding pitchers and contemplating outfield as one place), per Elias. The others: 2022 Ramón Urias at third base (10 prior video games), 1999 Pokey Reese at second base (11) and 2023 Gabriel Moreno at catcher (19).
Rockies: Discuss arm power. On Sept. 11, Nolan Jones fired an outfield help at 102.7 mph. That was the fifth-fastest-tracked outfield help within the common season below Statcast (2015), and the quickest since Jackie Bradley Jr. in 2018.
Jones and Brenton Doyle mixed for 5 of the eight 100+ mph outfield assists in MLB this season — two greater than some other group has had in a season below Statcast.
