MLB Insider Makes Surprise Pick for Padres Best Player in 2023

The first-year Padre continues to get love
MLB Insider Makes Surprise Pick for Padres Best Player in 2023
MLB Insider Makes Surprise Pick for Padres Best Player in 2023 /
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Your San Diego Padres are loaded with talent. They have superstar players on every level; some can argue who their best player is. It can be a number of guys each night, and San Diego is fortunate enough even to have that discussion. 

But who is the best player on the Padres? Some could point to the NL-MVP runner-up from last season, Manny Machado; others can point to the World Series champion and lefty slugger, Juan Soto, or you could go with the dynamic and explosive Fernando Tatis Jr. All those options are viable. You could even look at their pitching staff for the answer. 

However, Bleacher Reports MLB writer Kerry Miller believes this first-year Padre will be their most valuable player this season. 

San Diego Padres: Xander Bogaerts, SS

.333/.425/.697, 3 HR, 8 RBILike the Dodgers, plenty of candidates in San Diego. However, the Padres' newest star has been its brightest by far through nine games, leading the team in hits, homers, RBI, AVG and OBP. Bogaerts is at least tied for the team lead in several other categories, too. No regrets thus far on that $280 million contract, and it should be fun to watch the top four in this order once Fernando Tatis Jr. is reinstated and once Manny Machado and Juan Soto both heat up.

Some might've not believed this at the start of the season, but ten games in, Xander Boagerts looks like the clear-cut MVP for not only the Frairs but for the National League. He is tearing it up for the brown and gold; so far, he's leading the team in batting average, OPS, home runs and is tied with Machado for most hits. 

Boagerts is having a hell of a start, and hopefully, he keeps it up if they want to overtake the NL West crown. That'll be an excellent start for this Padres team, who has significant aspirations this season. 


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Ricardo Sandoval
RICARDO SANDOVAL

Baseball Enthusiast