Another MVP for Ohtani?
Shohei Ohtani has taken his offensive game to another level.
Photo Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
Author: Tommy Bennett
He is the unicorn of baseball as Shohei Ohtani has completely revitalized the game. Although he is not pitching this season, the ability to pitch and hit at a high level is amazing to see. Given his ability to excel at both pitching and hitting, Ohtani has secured multiple MVP awards and if it were not for Aaron Judge and his 62 home run campaign during the 2022 season, Ohtani likely would have won a third MVP. Despite Ohtani not pitching this season due to recovering from TJ surgery, he is putting together another MVP season just at the plate.
Ohtani Producing Like an MVP
Ohtani has been worth every penny of the richest contract in MLB history he signed this past off-season. The top of the order for the Dodgers is almost unfair and is a nightmare for pitchers on a nightly basis. Having to face Betts, Ohtani, Freeman, Smith, and Hernandez is a daunting task for a pitcher. Ohtani has been a large part of that success and the numbers certainly speak for themselves.
Ohtani is slashing .314/.398/.627 with a 1.025 OPS. Those are elite numbers, but for comparison sake, here’s where he ranks across all of baseball:
AVG: 3rd
OBP: 7th
SLG: 2nd
OPS: 2nd
While Ohtani is one of the best players in the sport, he is also the best player in the NL by a wide margin. In those same offensive categories, here’s where he ranks in the NL:
AVG: 1st
OBP: 4th
SLG: 1st
OPS: 1st
What stands out the most is his wins above replacement. Keep in mind that he is a designated hitter and WAR accounts for fielding, batting and base running. Ohtani leads the NL at 5.1 The next closest is Elly De La Cruz with 4.2. De La Cruz has been great for the Reds this year, as he is a threat at the plate and leads the league in stolen bases with 45. For Ohtani to be leading in this statistic is wildly impressive and something that shouldn’t be taken for granted. While he’s been great across the league, he’s also made Dodgers history on more than one occasion.
Ohtani Already A Dodger Legend
Ohtani has already cemented his legacy in the Dodgers history books and it’s only year one. It took until game 79, but Ohtani set a Dodgers record with an RBI in 10 straight games.
Ohtani made history by beating his manager's record for most home runs by a Japanese born player in Dodgers history. Dave Roberts previously held the record with 7, and 34 games in Ohtani’s career as a Dodger he hit his 8th. On top of that, he is the all-time leader in home runs among all Japanese born players. He went on to break Hideki Matsui’s record and currently sits at 199 for his career.
When all is said and done, Ohtani could put together one of the best offensive seasons any Dodgers player has ever had. It’s very possible that it will lead to yet another MVP award. Who knows how long Ohtani can keep this up, especially if he returns to pitching next season. Nothing lasts forever, so enjoy it while it lasts.