St. Louis Cardinals: Paul Goldschmidt named 2022 NL MVP
![CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 25: Paul Goldschmidt #46 of the St. Louis Cardinals at bat against the Chicago Cubs during the eighth inning at Wrigley Field on August 25, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fredbirdrants-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2018-2F08-2F1418047009-850x560-c04eab008a2760d1f7408b528c09c4cb.jpg)
After one of the best performances by a St. Louis Cardinal in recent memory, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was named the 2022 National League Most Valuable Player, beating out teammate Nolan Arenado and San Diego Padres Manny Machado.
MVP‼️ pic.twitter.com/hEajnMju0a
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) November 17, 2022
For months now, Goldschmidt has been the favorite to win MVP after taking the league by storm with his red-hot bat. the 35-year old finished the year batting .317/.404/.578 with 35 HR and 115 RBI in 151 games for the Cardinals. Goldschmidt led the National League in slugging percentage, OPS, and OPS+, while finishing top 5 in average, home runs, runs batted in, on-base percentage, WAR, total bases, and runs.
This is the first MVP that Goldschmidt has won in his career, as he had finished second in 2013 and 2015, top 3 in 2017, and top 20 five other times. This MVP adds to the awards that Goldschmidt has received this year, as he won the Silver Slugger for first base, NL Outstanding Player, Hank Aaron Award, and the MLBPAA Heart and Hustle Award.
It’s safe to say that acquiring Paul Goldschmidt will go down as one of the best moves in St. Louis Cardinals history. After dominating with the Arizona Diamondbacks for his first 8 seasons, the Cardinals traded for Goldschmidt in December 2018 to be the new anchor for their lineup. Goldschmidt continued to play at an elite level, but everything came together in 2022 to have an epic season for the storied franchise.
If there was any debate about Goldschmidt being a Hall of Famer, that should end now. Goldschmidt has cemented himself as one of the best players of his generation. Out of players who have played at least 1000 games since 2012, Goldschmidt trails just Mike Trout in OPS. The first baseman might not be the flashiest player in the league, but he is consistently one of the best.
Just bestie things pic.twitter.com/23W3wtDGij
— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) November 17, 2022
Even at age-35, Goldschmidt appears locked and loaded to continue his run of dominance at the plate for St. Louis. Paired with fellow MVP candidate Nolan Arenado, the Cardinals have two elite, future Hall of Fame anchors in their lineup, and could be primed for a deep run in 2023.
Trade ideas for next Cards catcher. dark. Next