Shohei Ohtani: Major League Baseball’s Most Valuable Player
By Jonah Casel (Reporter ‘27)
Shohei Ohtani seems to make the sports headlines every other day, and that is not surprising considering his accomplishments in the 2024 Major League Baseball regular season. The designated hitter and pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers has been extremely entertaining to watch since he signed with the Dodgers in December with a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract.
MLB fans were heartbroken when Ohtani injured his elbow in 2023 while playing for the Los Angeles Angels, an injury that would prevent him from pitching in the 2024 season. Nevertheless, Ohtani persisted – his elbow injury did not limit him from being able to hit in 2024. Since the day he signed with the Dodgers, Ohtani has been the best baseball player in the world, even without pitching. He’s racked up 55 home runs, stolen 55 bases, and batted in 123 runs. He is the first MLB player in history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. In 2024, Ohtani has been the best all-around baseball player, so it will be even more of a spectacle to watch him when he is able to pitch for Los Angeles as well as hit.
Despite Ohtani’s heroics when it comes to putting runs on the board and helping his team win, he has never played in a playoff game. This surprising statistic will change this season, as the Dodgers clinched the playoffs on September 19, 2024. Even though the Dodgers have a bad track record in the playoffs as of late, it is hard not to believe that the Dodgers with Ohtani in his first playoff run are not favorites for the World Series. In a tough National League with teams like the Phillies, Brewers, Padres, Diamondbacks, and Mets, it will be difficult, but no matter what the final score is, fans can bet that Shohei Ohtani will put on a Sho.
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