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During the 2023 season, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander each rose one spot on Box-Toppers “all-time” career points top 10 list.
They were the only player movements among Box-Toppers “all-time” career points top 10 players overall, among the top 10 pitchers and among the top 10 batters. Pitcher Randy Johnson, who retired in 2009, still leads all players in career Box-Toppers points with 282.5 (tracking began in 1995).
Read MoreAnalyzing 29 years of Box-Toppers points leaders in pitching and batting in both leagues.
In 2023, Shohei Ohtani of the Angels, American League Most Valuable Player, was the only player who won a major postseason award and also led his Box-Toppers category (leading AL batters with 19.4). Also, Pete Alonso of the Mets became the ninth batter since 1995 to lead his league’s batters in Box-Toppers points more than once, leading NL batters for the second straight season.
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The Atlanta Braves are Box-Toppers’ top-ranked team going into 2024, with a roster mostly intact from 2023 when they had baseball’s best record.
Meanwhile, the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners are Box-Toppers’ top two American League teams, with the Mariners having one of the best offseason improvements of any team so far. And also, while the Los Angeles Dodgers have made big offseason splashes adding Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Teoscar Hernandez, their offseason ranking has actually fallen from third place last season to fourth place now.
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Braves pitcher Spencer Strider is 2023 Box-Toppers Player of the Year, holding the season lead in Box-Toppers points since Sept. 13.
Meanwhile, Chris Bassitt of the Blue Jays rises to lead American League pitchers and Pete Alonso of the Mets rises to lead National League batters in the season’s final player rankings report. While Shohei Ohtani of the Angels loses the lead among AL pitchers, he still retains the top spot among AL batters.
Read MoreAstros pitcher Framber Valdez, pitching a no-hitter, is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.
Also Tuesday, Braves pitcher Spencer Strider rises to second place in Box-Toppers season player rankings, reclaiming the Box-Toppers points lead among National League pitchers, after earning NL Player of the Day honors.
Read MoreGuardians pitcher Tanner Bibee is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.
Also Saturday, Orioles closing pitcher Felix Bautista rises to seventh in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.
Read MoreBlue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.
Also Tuesday, two players rise in Box-Toppers season player rankings top 10 list after both earned Player of the Game honors: Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw rises to seventh place and Braves pitcher Spencer Strider rises to 10th.
Read MoreMarlins pitcher Braxton Garrett is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.
Also Saturday, Aaron Judge of the Yankees rises to ninth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning American League Batter of the Day honors. Plus, Nolan Gorman of the Cardinals rises to first place among National League batters in 2023 Box-Toppers points after earning NL Batter of the Day honors.
Read MoreDiamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly is Friday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.
Also Friday, Randy Arozarena of the Rays rises to first place among American League batters in 2023 Box-Toppers points after earning Player of the Game honors.
Read MoreRockies pitcher Kyle Freeland is Wednesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, rising to ninth place in season player rankings.
Also Wednesday, two other players rise in Box-Toppers season player rankings top 10 list after earning Player of the Game honors—Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani rises to fifth place and Rays pitcher Shane McClanahan rises to sixth place.
Read MoreRed Sox pitcher Chris Sale is Sunday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.
Also Sunday, Twins pitcher Sonny Gray rises to fifth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.
Read MorePhillies pitcher Matt Strahm is Thursday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.
Also Thursday, Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole rises to second place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.
Read MoreAdolis Garcia of the Rangers is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, recording what is possibly the fifth-highest Box-Toppers game score by a batter since tracking began in 1995.
Also Saturday, Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole regains first place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors. Plus, Rays pitcher Shane McClanahan rises to fifth place in player rankings.
Read MoreTigers pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.
Also Tuesday, Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman rises to eighth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors. Plus, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw has now earned Box-Toppers points in 16 straight seasons—tied for the third-longest active streak—after earning National League Player of the Day honors Tuesday.
Read MoreYankees pitcher Gerrit Cole is Sunday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, rising to first place in season player rankings.
Also Sunday, two other players rise into Box-Toppers season player rankings top 10 list after both earn Player of the Game honors—Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen rises to fourth place and Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo rises to sixth place.
Read MoreTwins pitcher Sonny Gray is Friday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.
Also Friday, Bryan Reynolds of the Pirates rises to first place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning National League Player of the Day honors.
Read MoreWhite Sox pitcher Dylan Cease is Thursday’s Opening Day Box-Toppers Player of the Day.
Also Thursday, Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole has now earned Box-Toppers points in 11 straight seasons after earning Player of the Game honors.
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Could 2023 be the season Clayton Kershaw passes Randy Johnson for the “all-time” lead in career Box-Toppers points?
Or could this coming season be the year when Kershaw loses the lead among active players in career Box-Toppers points to either Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander?
Read MoreIn 2022, Justin Verlander led American League pitchers in season Box-Toppers points for the third time in his career, tied for the seventh-most times a player has led a season points category.
Also in 2022, the New York Mets and Miami Marlins each had their first Box-Toppers points category leader—Pete Alonso and Sandy Alcantara— leaving the Pittsburgh Pirates as the only team to never have a player lead a category since tracking began in 1995.
Read MoreBox-Toppers tracks who most helps their team win the most games. Using standard box score statistics, Box-Toppers uses a simple formula to determine a Player of the Game for each Major League Baseball game played. That player is the person who contributed most to his team’s win. Players earn Box-Toppers points for being named Player of the Game and can earn bonus points for being Player of the Day or top player or batter in their league for the day.