The path to the National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award is a thrilling, unpredictable two-horse race. One player is the most dominant major leaguer in a generation, while the other is a twice-traded, unpredictable, but skilled player with a checkered off-the-field past.
The matchup between Shohei Ohtani and Marcell Ozuna contrasts styles and personalities, making their showdown all the more fascinating. Although the answer to the MVP question may seem obvious, statistics present a much more clouded picture.
Ohtani the Great
After an award-laden career in Japan, Ohtani was signed by the Los Angeles Angels in December of 2017 as both an everyday player and a pitcher. And despite suffering numerous injuries, he was named the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year. 2019 proved to be another injury plagued season but he still managed to hit 18 homers and drive in 62 runs in only 106 games.
The 2020 season proved to be a lost year for Ohtani. Not only did the season start late due to the COVID-19 pandemic but after his second pitching start of the season, he would be an offensive only player for the rest of the year due to a flexor strain in his right elbow. And to add insult to injury, his slash line for the year was only .190/.291/.366 leaving Ohtani dejected and frustrated.
MVP, MVP, MVP
But in 2021, Ohtani put it all together. Finally healthy, he had slugged 32 home runs by July 7 and was the first player ever named to an All-Star game as both a position player and a pitcher. In a record-breaking season, Ohtani finished the year going 9-2 as a pitcher with 156 strikeouts. Combine that with his hitting production of 46 dingers, 100 RBIs, along with 26 stolen bases and he had completed a season for the ages. Needless to say, he was unanimously named the AL MVP of the Year.
He followed that up in 2022 with a 15-win 34 homer season where he was once again an All-Star and a runner up for the AL MVP Award. And for a second consecutive year. he won the Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.
In 2023, Ohtani became a two-time unanimous AL MVP winner after another historical campaign. This despite suffering an ulnar collateral ligament tear in his right elbow and an oblique strain which ended his year on September 16. He still managed to produce a slash line of .304/.412/.654 along with 10-5 record and 167 strikeouts as a pitcher.
The Mercurial Marcell
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Marcell Ozuna has not had such a linear path to stardom. After four inconsistent, injury-ravaged seasons, Ozuna exploded in 2017. He established career highs with a .312 batting average, 37 homers and 124 runs batted in. He was named a first-time All-Star and also earned an NL Player of the Week Award.
Traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, after the 2017 season, Ozuna entered a five-year odyssey with the Cardinals and eventually the Atlanta Braves where he experienced some success, some less than stellar moments, while fighting through some nagging injuries. Also, there were several issues in his personal life that cast some doubt about his character and career.
But the sun came out for Ozuna in 2023. He slugged 40 homers, knocked in 100 runs, and scored 84 runs for the Braves and set several career best marks. He also helped propel the Braves to a tie with the 2019 Minnesota Twins for most home runs in a season (307)
Who’s the NL MVP for 2024?
That’s a good question. Ohtani leads the league in homers (39), runs scored (94), slugging percentage (.613), and OPS (.991). In addition, he is second in the NL in RBIs (88), walks (68), and steals (38). Meanwhile, Orzuna is the league leader in RBIs (94), average (.309), and he is second in hits (145), home runs (37), slugging percentage (.597), and OPS (.979).
Betting money is on Ohtani, but Ozuna is making it interesting, The Braves will have to make the playoffs for him to have even a shot at the MVP crown. But either way, it will be fun to watch these two battle it out to the finish.
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