Atlanta Braves Players Who Could Win Comeback Player of the Year in 2023
Here’s a list of Atlanta Braves players who are most likely to win the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Award.
The Atlanta Braves have had three players win the Comeback Player of the Year award since its inception in 2005. Tim Hudson won it in 2010, Johnny Venters won it in 2018, and Josh Donaldson in 2019.
Last year’s winners were Albert Pujols in the NL and Justin Verlander in the AL. The year of the old guys. Verlander was making a triumphant return from injury and Pujols’ glorious ride off into the sunset was an excellent rebound from not being very good.
Here’s a look at a few players coming off of an injury and/or a down season who have a shot at earning the award.
Atlanta Braves ’23 Comeback Candidate: Eddie Rosario
Eddie Rosario missed a huge chunk of the season due to an eye injury that required laser surgery. Vision problems left Rosario with a miserable .068 average through his first 17 games. Rosario was limited to just 80 games and a .212 average.
What Makes Rosario a Comeback Candidate?
Eddie Rosario finished 17th and 18th in MVP voting in 2019 and 2020. Between 2017 and 2021 Rosario hit 30 homers, 32 doubles, nine steals, and a .278 average per 162 games. He was a trade deadline acquisition in 2021 and became a huge part of the Braves world championship run. Rosario posted a .903 OPS (134 OPS+) during his time with the Braves that season. He would claim the NLCS MVP by posting an incredible .560/.607/.1.040 slash line in the series.
If Rosario’s vision is back to 20/20 and he can stay healthy in 2023, his resume would make him a prime candidate for Comeback Player of the Year.
Atlanta Braves ’23 Comeback Candidate: Ronald Acuna Jr.
We all know about Ronald Acuna Jr. and his return from a torn ACL. By most standards, Acuna’s 2022 was very good. A 114 OPS+ isn’t exactly a season one would need to “come back” from. However, as we have chronicled, Acuna hit several career lows last season. In his first three seasons (prior to his ACL injury in ’21), Acuna never finished lower than 12th in MVP voting. That includes his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2018.
What Makes Acuna Jr. a Comeback Candidate?
It’s hard to imagine a scenario where a player can post a 114 OPS+ and still be considered for such an award, but Acuna’s slugging percentage was a full .137 points lower than his career average. His OPS landed a full .161 points below his career norm. If Acuna’s knee is healthy in 2023 – and so far this offseason, it looks promising – then we could see his greatest season yet. Keep in mind, the pickoff rules are changing to encourage even more steals in 2023. Acuna has never been afraid to run and is among the fastest players in the league. If he rebounds to an OPS+ upwards of 150 again – he’s already done it twice – then Acuna may find himself on the shortlist of candidates for this award.
Atlanta Braves ’23 Comeback Candidate: Nick Anderson
As a human who lives in the Tampa area, I love this signing. Nick Anderson suffered a partial UCL tear during the spring of 2021. After six games he hit the IL and that was it. Rather than Tommy John surgery he opted for a UCL brace procedure and didn’t show up in The Show again until August of 2022. He remained in the minors until he suffered plantar fasciitis and ended his season.
This dude has barely touched a major-league field over the past two seasons. Don’t let that fool you into forgetting what he was!
Seth Carter from Rays Colored Glasses has this to say about Anderson during the 2020 season:
“Anderson has a rising fastball that reaches 98mph. He has a break-neck 12-6 curveball at 83-85 that can seem impossible to hit after seeing the fastball.. Nick Anderson is nasty. He is Josh Hader nasty. On the next slide, we will take a look at how Nick Anderson did the unimaginable last season and actually put up numbers worthy of comparing to the best relief pitcher in the game, Josh Hader.”
Anderson didn’t make it to the majors until 2019 at the age of 28 and has only pitched 87.1 MLB innings. However, his career ERA is just 2.89 and he has amassed 137 strikeouts in the time. His career WHIP sits at just 0.96 and he has a phenomenal 14.1 K/9.
If Anderson is healthy he could quickly emerge as a high-leverage reliever for the Braves in 2023.
Atlanta Braves ’23 Comeback Candidate: Kirby Yates
Kirby Yates has been in the Big Leagues since 2014. He is entering his age-36 season in 2023. He led the league in saves in 2019 with the Padres with 41. Over 60.2 innings that year he posted an incredible 1.19 ERA. Since 2017 he has struck out 14.0 batters per nine innings pitched while allowing just 2.6 walks per nine.
Yates underwent Tommy John surgery in March of 2021 and pitched in just six games for the Braves last season before going back on the IL with an inflamed elbow. It appears he will have his first “normal offseason” in a while, heading into 2023.
If he can recapture any bit of the form that made him the best reliever in baseball in 2019, he could be an easy choice for Comeback Player of the Year in 2023.
Atlanta Braves ’23 Comeback Candidate: Marcell Ozuna
Marcell Ozuna has had a rough couple of seasons since signing his four-year, $65 million deal… I mean, besides the fact that he’s made $32,000,000 during that time. Ozuna’s issues have been well documented. He was arrested twice and mostly struggled on the field.
Must Read. Why Braves Must Stick With Ozuna in 2023!. light
If you check out the article linked above, you will find some reminders as to why Ozuna earned such a large contract. Keep in mind, he hasn’t played a full season since he flirted with the Triple Crown in 2020. If he returns to form, he could be an easy candidate for the Comeback Player of the Year Award!
Atlanta Braves ’23 Comeback Candidate: Mike Soroka
Mike Soroka finished his rookie campaign in 2019 as an ace. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, Sixth in Cy Young voting, and made the All-Star team! He was anointed the ace of the staff after his rookie season.
He has pitched just 13.2 innings since then.
Soroka has dealt with a series of serious injuries, including an Achilles that has torn twice, and three surgeries. Soroka tore his Achilles in 2020 and suffered a complete re-tear in June of 2021.
Soroka made an effort to return late last season as the Braves pushed toward the postseason but posted a 5.40 ERA in Gwinnett. His season would end due to shoulder inflammation.
Although his ERA wasn’t great in his brief time in the minors last year, there were some positives to take away. His velocity was there and he showed flashes of brilliance with a couple of great games.
Soroka has battled entirely too much adversity in his young career. Some have questioned whether he’ll be able to return after three surgeries. With a full offseason ahead of him and the potential to recapture his 2019 glory, Mike Soroka is an optimal candidate for this award.
Atlanta Braves ’23 Comeback Candidate: Ozzie Albies
Ozzie Albies finished 2021 with 30 HRs, 106 RBI, 103 R, and 20 steals. He followed that up by playing in just 64 games and setting career lows in average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. It was the first time in his career he finished with an OPS+ of less than 100.
He missed most of the season due to injury and wasn’t quite right while he played.
Albies is still young but has a long track record of success. Albies is fast and stole 20 bases in 2021. With the new pickoff rules coming in 2023, he’s just the type of player that could pad his stolen base stats next year. Albies should put himself in the running for the Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Atlanta Braves ’23 Comeback Candidate: Ian Anderson
Over his first two seasons, Ian Anderson posted a 3.25 ERA over 160.2 innings. He finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2021. He looked on the cusp of breaking out in 2022. After 111.2 IP, it was evident Anderson wasn’t pitching the same.
He ended the season with a demotion and a 5.00 ERA. You can read more about the disappointing season Anderson had here.
If he can regain his form and earn his way back into the rotation in 2023, Anderson will be a candidate for the award.
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Which Braves player is most likely to win this award? Let us know in the comments below! Love you!