Shohei Ohtani has added extra {hardware}. This time it is the 2024 Nationwide League MVP Award. Ohtani’s 2024 was a lot greater than this award although. He continues to etch his place in baseball historical past and stake his declare within the dialogue of the most effective to ever do the job. On this 12 months, greater than something, Ohtani simply utterly silenced any former naysayers.
Earlier than this season, Ohtani had solely performed for the Angels, a group that by no means contended late within the season throughout his whole tenure there. There have been a number of instances they flirted with rivalry early within the season and even into July, however each single 12 months they have been cooked by September. Ohtani entered 2024 with zero profession playoff video games.
Any time a participant will get constructed up the best way Ohtani does, the pushback invariably follows. With Ohtani, it was simple for the individuals who love to take action. Ohtani was a novelty act that might by no means fly with a contender. He is not main his group to the playoffs, so his stats do not imply as a lot. It is simpler as a result of there isn’t any strain to win in Anaheim on a non-contender. We have by no means seen him do it when it issues. And so on.
It is all nonsense, in fact, and Ohtani confirmed as a lot this season.
Whereas rehabbing from Tommy John surgical procedure, Ohtani went out and carried out as the most effective all-around offensive participant in baseball.
When he received his first MVP in 2021, he hit .257. This time round, he hit a career-high .310. He led the league in on-base share and slugging share, posting a career-best 190 OPS+. He additionally established new profession highs with 197 hits, 38 doubles, 54 homers, 130 RBI, 134 runs and 59 stolen bases.
Sure, with 54 homers and 59 steals, Ohtani not solely grew to become the primary participant to ever attain the 50-50 membership, however he shattered that ceiling.
He did all of this with the attention-grabbing Dodgers. That they had the most effective report in baseball regardless of a litany of accidents. All of the whereas, Ohtani was a continuing. He led the NL in plate appearances whereas his teammates fell to damage what appeared like day by day.
Oh, and the Dodgers received the World Collection.
We have already seen Ohtani win two MVPs as a two-way participant, a primary in MLB historical past. We have now seen him win an MVP as a chosen hitter, additionally a primary in MLB historical past. This time round, he did so whereas carrying the most effective group in baseball en path to successful the World Collection.
Are there nonetheless any lingering naysayers? There positive should not be.
Ohtani now joins unique firm with three MVPs. The one participant to have ever received extra is Barry Bonds. Here is the listing of gamers with not less than three.
- Barry Bonds (NL: 1990, 1992, 1993, 2001-04)
- Shohei Ohtani (AL: 2021, 2023, NL: 2024)
- Mike Trout (AL: 2014, 2016, 2019)
- Albert Pujols (NL: 2005, 2008-09)
- Alex Rodriguez (AL: 2003, 2005, 2007)
- Mike Schmidt (NL: 1980-81, 1986)
- Mickey Mantle (AL: 1956-57, 1962)
- Yogi Berra (AL: 1951, 1954-55)
- Roy Campanella (NL: 1951, 1953, 1955)
- Stan Musial (NL: 1943, 1946, 1948)
- Joe DiMaggio (AL: 1939, 1941, 1947)
- Jimmie Foxx (AL: 1932-33, 1938)
Ohtani joins Corridor of Famer and inner-circle all-time nice Frank Robinson as the one gamers to ever win an MVP in every league.
Shohei Ohtani is just 30 years previous and he’ll return to each pitching and hitting subsequent season. There’s an argument to be made that he is the one most gifted participant within the historical past of baseball. He would possibly even find yourself the best participant ever. He’ll have to proceed to construct on the longevity side to be able to really be part of the upper-tier of all-time nice gamers, however he is properly on his approach.
Not solely that, however in 2024, Ohtani proved that any lingering doubters have been going to proceed to look silly. Query his means to do something at your peril.
