Why Shohei Ohtani? 5 Defining Reasons for Baseball Unicorn’s Unanimous MVP Triumph

The 2023 MLB season was the ride of multiple possibilities. The intense playoff race was a contributing factor, only reaching its resolution on the final day. Then it almost shaped like a 2022 repeat, only for the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks to alter the scene. As the two new teams made it to the World Series, it was a befitting end, with Texas claiming the big prize for the first time in its history. However, it seems it could not alter one constant that has been there since 2018: Shohei Ohtani‘s domination.

Each off-season starts with award ceremonies that recognize the exceptional contributions of managers, players, and teams throughout the season. With managers done, the focus has now shifted to the players. Given that the season saw multiple different players storm to the big scene, the selection of MVPs also warranted a change in both leagues. But that has not been the case, with Ohtani winning his second AL MVP award unanimously.

Shohei Ohtani Wins Al MVP Award Again, Unanimously

In an award ceremony held this Thursday, MLB announced Shohei Ohtani as AL MVP for 2023. The ex-Los Angeles Angels star won it, unanimously defeating the Texas Rangers’ Corey Seager and Marcus Semien in the race. With this win, he also became the second player in Angels’ history after Mike Trout to have multiple MVPs. With this, Ohtani also became the first player to win two MVP awards unanimously, adding to rare accolades that make him a special player. Since the other two challengers also had a great regular season and helped the Texas Rangers win their first World Series title, is the title justified?

The reason that adds to the case is Ohtani’s injury-plagued season, which caused the loss of his offensive and defensive strength. Although the Japanese star played with the pain and discomfort, his contribution dipped. It ultimately led to a fall in the home run race against Matt Olson and others. While pitching, Ohtani could not contribute evenly since his injury in August and completely went off the mound in the later stages. It also reflected in the team’s performance, as the Angels again missed the playoffs.

It brought the perception that there were better players than him for this award, like Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. The thought behind it is their World Series win and their contribution in the postseason for the title. Seager finished the league stage at an average of 0.327 and 33 HRs with 96 RBIs at an OPS of 1.013. He continued this run in the postseason to finish with 18 runs, six crucial home runs, and a World Series MVP trophy.

Meanwhile, his teammate, Marcus, also finished the league stage with an average of 0.276 and 100 RBIs and leveled it further in the postseason. The second baseman contributed 12 runs and two HRs, becoming an impact player for the team. Due to this, all counted the two players as firm challengers and potential MVP award winners. But even after that, their effort fell short in the MVP race, with Ohtani claiming the win. What factors contribute to it?

An MVP-level Contribution Unaffected by Injuries

Understandably, it was not a free-flowing season for Japanese wonder. A big reason for this was injuries that hampered the second half of the 2023 regular season for the 2021 MVP. Shohei Ohtani encountered a torn UCL in his pitching arm in August. He later struggled due to a strained right oblique in September, which limited his game time. It cost 2023 All-Star a lot.

Ohtani once looked set to chase the 62 HR record of Aaron Judge but lost the pace after injury. He finished the season with 44 HRs, with not a single HR scored in his last ten appearances. But he still won the MVP. Why? Well, the answer is simple: his undying impact and contribution to the team. Here are the five reasons that consolidate this understanding.

First: Better offensive ROI. Even after missing many games, Ohtani is way ahead in home runs, and OPS and almost matched Corey and Marcus on RBIs. With this, one can confirm that he would have been way ahead if injuries had not affected his play.

Second: His better win above replacement (WAR) record. Ideally, an MVP is a player who can not be replaced. Ohtani recorded a bWAR of 10 more than Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. Though it shows how the Angels depend on him, it confirms that he is replaceable and wins the tie.

Third: His pitching abilities. Although Ohtani did better than Corey and Marcus in offense, his pitching abilities add to his MVP status. The two-way phenom claimed 167 strikeouts with an ERA of 3.14 to finish the season with a WAR of 4. With this, he outshined many pitchers with more game time on the mound than him.

Fourth: His consistency. Yes, Ohtani had a dip in form, but it was not natural but a forced one. Without injuries, the star player had finished the season with a better record. His presence at the top in the MVP race for three consecutive seasons confirms the same.

Watch this story: Young Shohei Ohtani’s Journey To Elite Hitting Proving His Little League Coach Wrong.

Fifth: An inspirational force that everyone looks up to. There are very few players who have this ability to inspire others. Shohei Ohtani is one of them. Not only the teammates but also the rivals and all managers accept this. It put him in a different league from the rest. Although this factor may not impact the MVP race entirely, it does impact unanimous acceptance. With Ohtani, there is no shortage of it, which gives his name an extra boost in MVP rankings and makes him a deserving MVP winner.

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