Angels designated hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani's 2023 season may have been cut short by injury, but it didn’t stop the Japanese superstar from posting the highest number of jersey sales in MLB this year.
Ohtani held down the top spot in the annual list, released by MLB’s online store Friday. He was followed by Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge.
Despite Los Angeles’s struggles this season, Ohtani has continued to make history. He slashed an otherworldly .304/.412/.654 with 44 home runs and 95 RBIs, in addition to a 10–5 ledger on the mound.
Acuña also has had a ’23 for the ages, hitting 41 home runs and stealing 70 bases. Judge, hindered by injuries, has still managed 37 home runs a year after hitting an American League-record 62.
Rounding out the top 10 were Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr., Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts, Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez, Atlanta first baseman Matt Olson, Houston third baseman Alex Bregman, and Angels center fielder Mike Trout.
Finishing 11th through 20th in sales were Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, Braves third baseman Austin Riley, Reds first baseman Joey Votto, Rangers shortstop Corey Seager, Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cincinnati shortstop Elly De La Cruz, San Diego third baseman Manny Machado, Atlanta second baseman Ozzie Albies, Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, and Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman.
