David Ortiz, former Boston Red Sox star and Hall of Famer, has questioned the possibility of Shohei Ohtani being awarded the National League MVP this year. Ortiz argues that, like himself, Ohtani has primarily played as a designated hitter, and this should be a factor in the MVP decision.
Ortiz, who spent most of his career as a designated hitter, never won the AL MVP. Despite his impressive numbers and significant contributions to his teams, Ortiz always faced the challenge of being considered for the award due to his position.
Now, Ortiz is watching with interest how MLB will handle Shohei Ohtani, who is on the verge of making history by becoming the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season, and has sent a strong message to the league.
“MLB always had an excuse for not giving me the MVP, supposedly because I was a designated hitter. I’m going to see what they do this year. I’m going to sit back and wait to see where they run, besides, Ohtani is MLB’s ‘darling,'” Ortiz said in a recent interview.
Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to his solo home run, his 45th of the season to trail 2-1 to the Cleveland Guardians, during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on September 06, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Ortiz’s argument
David Ortiz maintains that MLB always had an “excuse” for not awarding him the MVP due to his role as a designated hitter. Now, the former player is keen to see how the league will treat Ohtani, who has also played primarily as a DH.
The comparison between Ortiz and Ohtani
Although both players have excelled in Major League Baseball, there are some notable differences between them. Ohtani has displayed exceptional versatility, combining his power as a hitter with his ability as a pitcher. Additionally, Ohtani’s WAR in 2024 is higher than Ortiz’s career-best WAR.
Despite these differences, Ortiz continues to question the possibility of Ohtani being recognized as the National League MVP. It will be interesting to see how MLB responds to Ortiz’s criticism and whether Ohtani will ultimately receive the award.
