"Majority" Ohtani's Season, MVP History What will he use this time? 'Drugs'Uncomparable to Barry Bonds

Nov 12, 2024

LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani is set to win his third MVP award. AP Yonhap News

Shohei Ohtani, who is expressing his feelings right after winning the World Series. AFP Yonhap News

LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani will challenge an unprecedented record in the season of full-fledged awards.

BBWAA (National Baseball Journalists Association) announced on the 12th (Korea time) the three finalists for each category to challenge for MVP, Cy Young Award, Rookie of the Year, and Manager of the Year.

Ohtani was named to the National League MVP Finalist along with New York Mets Francisco Lindor and Arizona Diamondbacks Ketel Marte. There is no disagreement that Ohtani is MVP. Attention is focused on whether it is chosen unanimously. All 30 reporters who exercised their right to vote immediately after the end of the regular season would have given Ohtani the first place vote.

Ohtani appeared in 159 games this season 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. He ranked first in NL home runs, RBIs, runs scored, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, and Ruta. The biggest achievement was achieving the first 50-50 in history. How meaningful the opening of the club is can be seen from the fact that his 50th home run ball of the season, which he played at Rondipo Park in Miami, was sold at auction for $4.392 million, the highest price ever.

Shohei Otani is expressing his feelings after being named the 2023 AL MVP. AFP Yonhap News

Ohtani is a two-time American League (AL) MVP with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021 and 2023. Both were unanimous. It's the first time in history. If the third MVP is unanimous, it is also a brilliant historical achievement. In addition, if he wins MVP as a Dodgers player, he will be the second player in history to win MVP in both leagues. Frank Robinson was named NL MVP for the Cincinnati Reds in 1961 and AL MVP for the Baltimore Orioles in 1966. However, Ohtani is the first player to become the best player in both leagues for the second consecutive year.

However, Ohtani did not play as a pitcher this year. After undergoing elbow surgery last fall, he underwent rehabilitation this year and played only as a designated hitter. It is not known exactly what BBWAA would have rated in this category. The controversy over the MVP status of the designated hitter has succeeded in dispelling the controversy, but there may be differences over whether he can be unanimously MVP by playing only as a batter. In other words, Lindor, who led the Mets to the postseason, may have received the top vote.

Regardless of the unanimous decision, it is a rare historical case to be named MVP three times in the last four years when he has begun to play both pitching and hitting. The most outstanding player in this category is Barry Bonds. He won the NL MVP award for the fourth consecutive year from 2001 to 2004. It's an unprecedented record. However, it is difficult to make Ohtani's comparison target in that Bonds, who led the steroid era, is also recognized as a 'stain' in MVP history.

MLB.com says, `Just by looking at the record, Ohtani is certain to win his third MVP award. Unanimity is also likely. Despite being a designated hitter, he ranked first in NL with bWAR 9.2'No designated hitter has ever been named MVP, but no designated hitter has been as good as Ohtani.

Meanwhile, the AL MVP finalist was narrowed down to Aaron Judge and Juan Soto of the New York Yankees and Bobby Weit Jr. of the Canjacist Royals. Like Ohtani, it is a hot concern whether Judge can be named the unanimous MVP. The MVP will be released on MLB Network at 5 a.m. on the 22nd.