Introduction to Greatness
When it came to Major League Baseball’s history of the most valuable player award, there used to be Barry Bonds — then everyone else. Over his 22-year career, Bonds won baseball’s highest individual honor a record seven times. Before this year, no one else had more than three.
The Rise of Shohei Ohtani
But, like Bonds, accomplishing things no one else can has become the defining trait of Shohei Ohtani’s rise to superstardom. And on Thursday, his career was elevated another notch higher, as he was named MVP for the fourth time by unanimous vote from the Baseball Writers Assn. of America to join Bonds in an exclusive club of winners with more than three.
Ohtani’s Exceptional Season
“It’s an honor, of course,” Ohtani said in Japanese. “For me, being chosen unanimously was also very special.” Like his three previous wins, which also came via unanimous vote, Ohtani was a virtual lock. As a hitter alone he led the National League by a wide margin in OPS (1.014) and slugging percentage (.622), was second in on-base percentage (.392) and, despite being outside the top 10 in batting average (.282, ranking 13th), set a career high with 55 home runs, trailing only Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber for the crown.
Pitching Mastery
And then there was his pitching. In perhaps the most impressive aspect of his season, Ohtani returned from a second Tommy John surgery — the kind of procedure only a handful of pitchers have fully rebounded from — and flashed almost every bit of his dominant form despite missing the previous year and a half on the mound. In 14 starts he had a 2.87 ERA, the second-lowest of his career.
Postseason Performance
The most impressive moments of Ohtani’s season came in the playoffs, when he helped the Dodgers to a second consecutive World Series title. He hit two home runs in the postseason opener. He authored an all-time performance in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, hitting three home runs while striking out 10 over six scoreless innings to win NLCS MVP.
Comparison to Barry Bonds
Thursday’s MVP award, however, was a recognition of the production Ohtani posted to simply help the Dodgers reach October. It was a reminder of the sustained excellence he has maintained over the last half-decade. And it put him in territory only Bonds had occupied, as he continues to build his case for being the greatest player in history.
The Path to Greatness
Before this season, Ohtani shared some select company as a three-time MVP. Two of his old Angels teammates, Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, had done it. So too had Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial, Jimmie Foxx, Mike Schmidt, and Alex Rodriguez. Only Bonds had surpassed that total.
Conclusion
Given that Ohtani will return to a more normal pitching schedule next season, he almost certainly will enter 2026 as the MVP favorite once more. He will try to match another Bonds mark by winning the award in four consecutive years — and help the Dodgers complete a World Series three-peat. “In that sense,” he said of aiding the team’s success, “hopefully I can end up with a couple more MVPs.” “But at the end of the day,” he added, “it’s all about winning games.”
FAQs
- Q: How many MVP awards has Shohei Ohtani won?
A: Shohei Ohtani has won four MVP awards. - Q: Who else has won more than three MVP awards in MLB history?
A: Only Barry Bonds, with seven MVP awards, had surpassed the three-MVP mark before Ohtani. - Q: What is Ohtani’s goal for the upcoming season?
A: Ohtani aims to help his team win games and potentially claim another MVP award, though his primary focus is on team success.
