'First-first-first' Third Silver Slugger Ohtani changed the league and booked the third MVP...I write history even in the season of awards
Nov 13, 2024
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Ohtani became the main character in the NL designated hitter category with 'Silver Slugger by position in both leagues in 2024' announced on MLB Network on the 14th (Korea time).
With this, Ohtani became the third designated hitter with the strongest bat skills of the season after 2021 and 2023 when he was with the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani, who moved to the Dodgers this year after Josh Bell and Bryce Harper, won the honor for the third time since 2022 when the designated hitter system was introduced in the NL.
Ohtani, who signed a 10-year, $700 million FA contract last winter and wore a Dodgers uniform, played 159 games this year and marked a batting average of 0.310 (197 hits in 636 at-bats), 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, 134 runs, 59 steals, 0.390 on-base percentage, 0.646 slugging percentage, 1.036 OPS, and 411 hits. In the NL, he ranked first in home runs, RBIs, runs scored, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, Ruta, and bWAR (9.2).
Ohtani, who had a career high across almost all areas of offense, was praised as the most brilliant hitter in history, especially for achieving 50 home runs and 50 steals for the first time in history. Considering that the NL MVP, which will be announced on the 22nd, is also up to Ohtani, it is expected that the first award record this offseason will be poured out.
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The first record in relation to MVP is also in the designated hitter category. No designated hitter has been named MVP of the regular season since the designated hitter appeared in 1973. The reason was the perception that he was not playing defense 'half player'. Prior to Ohtani's appearance, teammates Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts also said they thought designated hitters should not be MVP.
Ohtani will also become the first player to be named MVP in consecutive seasons in both leagues. Ohtani, who was named AL MVP in 2021 and 2023, moved the NL this year and is awaiting his third career win. If he becomes the best player this year after last year, he will set a milestone of becoming the MVP by changing the league for the first time in history for two consecutive years. Earlier, Frank Robinson was named NL and AL MVP for the Cincinnati Reds in 1961 and Baltimore Orioles in 1966, respectively, marking the first time in the category.
In addition to this, Ohtani will challenge for the unanimous MVP again this time. The previous two MVPs were unanimous, but this time it is highly likely. Ohtani is the first player to be unanimously named MVP twice. However, the meaning is inevitably highlighted in that he did not pitch this season.
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Outfielders include AL Aaron Judge, Juan Soto (Yanks), Anthony Santander (Baltimore), NL Jackson Merrill, Jurickson Profar (San Diego), Teoscar Hernades (Dodgers), shortstop Bobby Witte Jr. (Kansas City), Francisco Lindor (Metz), third baseman Jose Ramirez (Claverland), Manny Machado (San Diego), first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto), Bryce Harper (Philadelphia), second baseman Jose Altuve (Houston), Ketel Marte (Arizona), catcher Salvador Perez (Kansas).
The New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers were selected side by side in the Offensive Teams of the Year category.
jhno@sportschosun.com
