MLB Best Tools 2023: Managers, Scouts & Executives Vote On Baseball’s Best Talent

Image credit: Julio Rodriguez (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

National League

POWER TRIO

For half a decade, three of the brightest young talents in baseball have called the National League home. All three came up so early that none is more than 25 years old.

League MVP candidate Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Braves won a trio of Best Tools categories this year: Best Hitter, Most Exciting Player and Best Outfield Arm. He placed second in Best Power.

Acuña has fared well in Best Tools voting in the past but had never won a category.

Padres outfielder Juan Soto won Best Strike-Zone Judgment for a third consecutive season, picking up the mantle from Joey Votto, who won the category in eight of the previous nine seasons.

The Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. has returned to form this season after missing 2022 with injuries and a PED suspension. The erstwhile shortstop was recognized at his new position of right field as Best Defensive Outfielder and with a second-place finish in Best Outfield Arm.

Best Hitter

1. Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves

2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers

3. Luis Arraez, Marlins

Best Power

1. Matt Olson, Braves

2. Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves

3. Pete Alonso, Mets

Best Bunter

1. TJ Friedl, Reds

2. Corbin Carroll, D-backs

3. Geraldo Perdomo, D-backs

Best Strike-Zone Judgment

1. Juan Soto, Padres

2. Luis Arraez, Marlins

3. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers

Best Hit-And-Run Artist

1. Luis Arraez, Marlins

2. Nico Hoerner, Cubs

3. Jeff McNeil, Mets

Best Baserunner

1. Corbin Carroll, D-backs

2. Trea Turner, Phillies

3. Christian Yelich, Brewers

Fastest Baserunner

1. Elly De La Cruz, Reds

2. Corbin Carroll, D-backs

3. Trea Turner, Phillies

Most Exciting Player

1. Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves

2. Elly De La Cruz, Reds

3. Corbin Carroll, D-backs

Best Pitcher

1. Zac Gallen, D-backs

2. Spencer Strider, Braves

3. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

Best Fastball

1. Spencer Strider, Braves

2. Zack Wheeler, Phillies

3. Camilo Doval, Giants

Best Curveball

1. Blake Snell, Padres

2. Charlie Morton, Braves

3. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

Best Slider

1. Alexis Diaz, Reds

2. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

3. Spencer Strider, Braves

Best Changeup

1. Devin Williams, Brewers

2. Logan Webb, Giants

3. Sandy Alcantara, Marlins

Best Control

1. Logan Webb, Giants

2. Zac Gallen, D-backs

3. Aaron Nola, Phillies

Best Pickoff Move

1. Max Fried, Braves

2. Taijuan Walker, Phillies

3. David Peterson, Mets

Best Reliever

1. Josh Hader, Padres

2. Alexis Diaz, Reds

3. Devin Williams, Brewers

Best Defensive C

1. Patrick Bailey, Giants

2. Sean Murphy, Braves

3. JT Realmuto, Phillies

Best Defensive 1B

1. Christian Walker, D-backs

2. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals

3. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers

Best Defensive 2B

1. Ha-Seong Kim, Padres

2. Nico Hoerner, Cubs

3. Ozzie Albies, Braves

Best Defensive 3B

1. Nolan Arenado, Cardinals

2. Manny Machado, Padres

3. Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pirates

Best Defensive SS

1. Dansby Swanson, Braves

2. Francisco Lindor, Mets

3. Willy Adames, Brewers

Best Infield Arm

1. Elly De La Cruz, Reds

2. Casey Schmitt, Giants

3. Manny Machado, Padres

Best Defensive OF

1. Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres

2. Joey Wiemer, Brewers

3. Mookie Betts, Dodgers

Best Outfield Arm

1. Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves

2. Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres

3. Nolan Jones, Rockies

Best Manager

1. Craig Counsell, Brewers

2. Brian Snitker, Braves

3. Torey Lovullo, D-backs

American League

TWO LEGIT

Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez are the first players in history to hit at least 20 homers and steal at least 20 bases in their first two MLB seasons.

The young superstars are also decorated in American League Best Tools voting.

Witt was voted Fastest Baserunner as a rookie in 2022 and repeated in 2023. This year he added second-place finishes in the Best Baserunner and Best Defensive Shortstop categories.

Rodriguez placed third in the Most Exciting Player category in both 2022 and 2023, adding a second-place finish for Best Defensive Outfielder.

Best Hitter

1. Shohei Ohtani, Angels

2. Corey Seager, Rangers

3. Bo Bichette, Blue Jays

Best Power

1. Shohei Ohtani, Angels

2. Aaron Judge, Yankees

3. Luis Robert Jr., White Sox

Best Bunter

1. Andres Gimenez, Guardians

2. Daulton Varsho, Blue Jays

3. Esteury Ruiz, Athletics

Best Strike-Zone Judgment

1. Yandy Diaz, Rays

2. Jose Ramirez, Guardians

3. Ryan Noda, Athletics

Best Hit-And-Run Artist

1. Steven Kwan, Guardians

2. Andres Gimenez, Guardians

3. Whit Merrifield, Blue Jays

Best Baserunner

1. Esteury Ruiz, Athletics

2. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals

3. Daulton Varsho, Blue Jays

Fastest Baserunner

1. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals

2. Esteury Ruiz, Athletics

3. Jorge Mateo, Orioles

Most Exciting Player

1. Shohei Ohtani, Angels

2. Luis Robert Jr., White Sox

3. Julio Rodriguez, Mariners

Best Pitcher

1. Gerrit Cole, Yankees

2. Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays

3. Framber Valdez, Astros

Best Fastball

1. Jhoan Duran, Twins

2. Felix Bautista, Orioles

3. Gerrit Cole, Yankees

Best Curveball

1. Framber Valdez, Astros

2. Tyler Glasnow, Rays

3. Jhoan Duran, Twins

Best Slider

1. Shohei Ohtani, Angels

2. Dylan Cease, White Sox

3. Matt Brash, Mariners

Best Changeup

1. Shane McClanahan, Rays

2. Pablo Lopez, Twins

3. Trevor Richards, Blue Jays

Best Control

1. George Kirby, Mariners

2. Zach Eflin, Rays

3. Framber Valdez, Astros

Best Pickoff Move

1. Taylor Clarke, Royals

2. Tanner Bibee, Guardians

3. Zack Greinke, Royals

Best Reliever

1. Felix Bautista, Orioles

2. Matt Brash, Mariners

3. Ryan Pressly, Astros

Best Defensive C

1. Jonah Heim, Rangers

2. Adley Rutschman, Orioles

3. Jose Trevino, Yankees

Best Defensive 1B

1. Nathaniel Lowe, Rangers

2. Anthony Rizzo, Yankees

3. Yandy Diaz, Rays

Best Defensive 2B

1. Marcus Semien, Rangers

2. Andres Gimenez, Guardians

3. Taylor Walls, Rays

Best Defensive 3B

1. Matt Chapman, Blue Jays

2. Jose Ramirez, Guardians

3. Alex Bregman, Astros

Best Defensive SS

1. Wander Franco, Rays*

2. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals

3. Javier Baez, Tigers

* Baseball America asked managers to submit Best Tools surveys by Aug. 4. Ten days later, the Rays placed Wander Franco on the restricted list as MLB investigated accusations of inappropriate relations with a minor. The investigation is ongoing.

Best Infield Arm

1. Matt Chapman, Blue Jays

2. Carlos Correa, Twins

3. Eugenio Suarez, Mariners

Best Defensive OF

1. Kevin Kiermaier, Blue Jays

2. Julio Rodriguez, Mariners

3. Daulton Varsho, Blue Jays

Best Outfield Arm

1. Adolis Garcia, Rangers

2. Alex Verdugo, Red Sox

3. Kevin Kiermaier, Blue Jays