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Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani Secure AL and NL MVP Honors
In a anticipated announcement, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani were awarded the American League (AL) and National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) titles, respectively, each receiving the top honor with all 30 first-place votes.
Despite not surpassing his own remarkable single-season home run record from 2022, Judge continued to assert his dominance with the New York Yankees, marking his second career MVP victory in the AL. He outperformed fellow contenders Juan Soto and Kansas City Royals’ standout Bobby Witt Jr., who garnered all 30 second-place votes.
Throughout the season, Judge showcased his hitting prowess, leading the league with 58 home runs. He also achieved league-best metrics in Wins Above Replacement (WAR) with a score of 10.8, along with 144 RBIs, a slugging percentage of .701, an on-base percentage of .458, and an OPS+ of 223. Judge’s powerful offensive performance played a critical role in leading the Yankees to the postseason.
Interestingly, while Soto’s performance contributed significantly to the Yankees’ World Series campaign alongside Judge, Witt displayed exceptional talent, finishing the season with an impressive .332 batting average, 32 home runs, and 109 RBIs. Soto himself ended the season with 41 homers and 109 RBIs, showcasing the strength of the AL’s offensive talent.
While Judge’s postseason journey was less stellar, with him struggling to maintain his usual form—posting a .184 batting average over 14 games—this accolade reflects his regular-season accomplishments.
On the other side, Shohei Ohtani’s offseason saw him sign a groundbreaking $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, although he underwent elbow surgery that sidelined him from pitching throughout the entire season. Additionally, a gambling scandal had initially cast a shadow over his season, though investigations confirmed he was unaware of the illicit activities connected to his interpreter.
Questions arose regarding Ohtani’s potential to replicate his MVP-caliber performance as a designated hitter only, but he exceeded expectations. Historic achievements marked his season, as he became the first player ever to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. Notably, his record-breaking home run fetch $4.39 million at auction, highlighting his incredible market value.
In addition to his home runs, Ohtani led the National League in various statistics including RBIs (130), on-base percentage (.390), slugging percentage (.646), and total bases (411), along with scoring 134 runs, which were the highest in Major League Baseball. His batting average of .310 positioned him just behind Luis Arráez, while his 59 stolen bases were second only to Elly De La Cruz.
Ohtani’s previous accolades include AL MVP wins in both 2021 and 2023 while playing for the Los Angeles Angels, and he finished as the runner-up to Judge in the 2022 season, where Judge made history by breaking the AL home run record with 62 homers. With this latest award, Ohtani joins an elite group as the 12th player in MLB history to secure the MVP Award three times.
In a historic twist, Judge and Ohtani faced each other in the World Series, with Ohtani capturing his first championship title. This showdown marked a significant moment in baseball history, as it was the first instance since 2012 where two eventual MVPs competed against each other in the World Series, reminiscent of the Giants’ Buster Posey besting the Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera.
Both Judge and Ohtani’s performances throughout the 2024 season underline the extraordinary talent present in today’s MLB, setting a challenging benchmark for competitors in the future. Their stories continue to captivate baseball fans and analysts alike.
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