Mookie Betts Outshines Shohei Ohtani? Star Infielder’s MVP Form Continues

The Los Angeles Dodgers have wasted no time in displaying why they’re a threat in 2024. Their biggest weapon? A lineup is dominantly stacked. Well, their lineup has opposing pitchers whispering under their breath as fans compete for an early entry. But what’s all this hype about? Is it because of Shohei Ohtani or is there a new competitor?

At the core of this offensive juggernaut rests a uniquely powerful trio. Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman are the three corners of this power-packed triangle. All three boast MVP titles, and when they come together, they form a batting order which is rewriting the history books of baseball. But the competition is stiff between Betts and the Unicorn. Is Mookie going to overtake the two-way phenom in this year’s MVP race?

In the MVP Race Between Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani, Who Will Win?

On one hand, the Dodgers’ two gems are a nightmare for opposing teams. On the other, the two are so closely dominant that it might be tough to gauge who is better. Betts, the reigning NL MVP of 2020, is at present leading the majors with a stellar .611 batting average. He’s on a tear, hitting four home runs in the past four games, driving in a team-high 10 runs. That’s quite a number to record early this season.

Closely following Betts is the two-time reigning AL MVP, Shohei Ohtani. Although, he has not yet replicated his record-breaking 2023 season, the Japanese import’s sheer versatility is a threat on both sides of the ball. The power and dominance he adds to the lineup is unmatched. Now this is a competition that needs to be closely watched.

“The first word that comes to mind is ‘Daunting’” as the Dodgers manager Dave Roberts describes their line up. St. Louis Cardinals’ veteran ace Miles Mikolas, also put it in the words “It’s not your standard 1-2-3. Those guys are good. And disciplined. And hit with a whole lot of power.” With that, it becomes quite interesting to wonder whether it will be the star infielder or Ohtani who will take the MVP award this time.

The Flavor of Competition is Mild Within the Dodgers

Despite the visible scope for brewing competition, there’s a different emotion in this southern California team. Stan Kasten, the president of the Dodgers made a comparison to the competition among the Atlanta Braves players. He said, “When Shohei joked about not getting a home run, I’m not sure those guys [in Atlanta] would have joked because they wanted to out-do each other. They took pride being as good or better than the other guy. They all won Cy Youngs, and that made them feel great. Our guys have the MVPs, and while they’re pushing each other, I just don’t sense they’re competing against each other, not like those guys.”

Read More : “Just Want to Win”: Mookie Betts Stands Firm as “Whole World” Doubts His Ambitious Position Switch

This isn’t just an assembly of superstars, it’s a stage for excellence. While some appreciate the competition between the two dominant superpowers of Los Angeles, many appreciate the collaborative efforts from the two. The fact that they are great as teammates ranks them higher than MVPs because after all, it’s the team that wins.