Ohtani and Judge seek to repeat the MVP award and make history
Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge seek to repeat the MVP award for the first time simultaneously in both leagues
The sensational Japanese two-way player of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani, and the American outfielder of the New York Yankees, Aaron Judge, seek to repeat in their respective leagues as winners of the Most Valuable Player award, announced on Thursday by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA).
Ohtani competes for the National League award with New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto and Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber. Judge’s rivals in the American League are catcher Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners and Dominican third baseman José Ramírez of the Cleveland Guardians.
In the Most Valuable Player (MVP) vote, 14 points are awarded for a first-place vote, nine for second, eight for third, and so on in descending order to one point for tenth place on the voter’s ballot. Two writers for each city with a team, for a total of 30 votes, receive a ballot for the MVP.
Since the BBWAA began awarding the award in 1931, only 14 times has a player received it in consecutive years, but it has never happened simultaneously in both leagues. Ohtani and Judge were the favorites of AM850 BET to win the laurels before the season started and they continued to be so when the regular calendar concluded.
The BBWAA will reveal the name of the National League MVP in the first half hour of a special program on the Major League Baseball channel (MLB Network) that will begin at 7:00 p.m. Eastern time. The winner of the American League will be announced after 7:30 p.m.
Ohtani, who won in 2021 and 2023 in the American League and last year in the National League, is trying to join Barry Bonds (7) as the only players with four or more MVP statuettes. The Japanese hit .282, with 55 home runs, 20 steals, 146 runs scored and 102 RBIs and in his return to the mound he had a 2.87 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 47 innings.
After a slow start to the first season of his historic $765 million contract with the Mets, Soto finished with the best numbers of his career. The Dominican batted .263, with 43 home runs, 120 runs scored and 105 RBIs and led the National League in stolen bases (38), walks (127) and OBP (.396).
The Mets, who have been around since 1962, are one of three current franchises that have never had an MVP-winning player. The other two are the youngest, Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays, who debuted in 1998. This is the third time that Soto, who came second in 2021 with the Washington Nationals and third last year with the Yankees, is a finalist for Most Valuable Player.
Schwarber led the circuit with 56 home runs and 132 RBIs just in time to become a free agent. The slugger appeared in all 162 games for the Phillies, walking 108 and scoring 111 runs.
Judge, the MVP of the Young Circuit in 2022 and 2024, seeks to join the list, which includes Ohtani, of 12 players with three or more awards. ‘The Captain’ of the Yankees led the league in batting (.331), walks (124) and runs scored (137) and added 53 home runs, 30 doubles and 114 RBIs.
Aaron was also first in on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging. He is just the fifth player in the expansion era (since 1961) to lead the MLB in batting averages, OBP and slugging averages in a single season. Three of the four players above won the MVP award.
But Judge doesn’t have it easy. Raleigh is the first catcher with 60 home runs and also led the league with 125 RBIs while leading the Mariners to the Western Division title. The Mariners’ ‘Big Dumper’ is the seventh player in MLB history to hit 60 home runs in a season and the fourth in the Young Circuit, along with Babe Ruth, Roger Maris and Judge.
Raleigh surpassed the mark for a catcher held by Venezuelan Salvador Pérez (48 home runs in 2021). They were also the most home runs in MLB history by a switch-hitter, eclipsing Mickey Mantle (54 home runs in 1961).
For the fourth time in his career, Ramírez is an MVP finalist, after hitting .283 with 44 stolen bases, 34 doubles, 30 home runs and 103 runs scored.
Ramírez has been in the top five in MVP voting five times, including 2024 (where he finished fifth); This is the most top-five finishes for an active player who has never won the award.
The Dominican seeks to be the fourth member of Cleveland to win the MVP award, and the first since 1953 (Al Rosen).
