Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani may have just won the 2024 NL MVP title after his historic performance against the Miami Marlins on Sept. 19.
Ohtani went 6-6 with three home runs, 10 RBIs, and two stolen bases and became the first person in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. His electric performance helped seal the Dodgers’ 12th consecutive playoff appearance, bringing Los Angeles one step closer to their ninth division title in the last decade.
After making history, Ohtani is slashing .294/.376/.629. With a 7.8 WAR, FOX Sports lists him as the top NL MVP candidate with -1299 odds. Despite Ohtani’s phenomenal performance this year as a designated hitter, not everyone agrees he’s the unanimous winner. Red Sox legend and Hall of Famer David Ortiz expressed his discontent with Ohtani’s odds of winning NL MVP this year.
" always had… 'issues' not to give me the MVP because I was a designated hitter. I'm going to see what they're going to say this year when Ohtani, the 'pretty girl' of MLB, is in the race,” Ortiz said, reported by Marca.
Red Sox legend David Ortiz calls out MLB for Shohei Ohtani's standing in NL MVP race
SHOHEI OHTANI HAS DONE IT
— MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2024
50 HOME RUNS | 50 STOLEN BASES
HISTORY pic.twitter.com/GRVJUCbpja
Ortiz’s take is both surprising and quizzical. After he spent his entire 20-year career as a designated hitter, it’s unfair for Ortiz to critique MLB’s assessment of MVP contention. There’s no doubt that Ortiz earned his accolades, but it’s one thing to be frustrated by the past and it’s another to undermine the talent Ohtani has exhibited this year. Calling Ohtani the “pretty girl” in the league holds racist undertones, too. As a person of color, Ortiz should know better than to insult Ohtani's stardom because of ethnicity.
While no other designated hitter has won an MVP title outside of the World Series, Ohtani was technically named AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as both a pitcher and designated hitter. He would hardly break precedent if he wins it again this year. If anything, Ohtani is paving the way for designated hitters to earn more recognition in baseball. Ortiz should applaud this new chapter in baseball instead of putting it down.
Big Papi will always be a fan-favorite and beloved by Red Sox fans, but his comments are out of line. Baseball is constantly evolving, and breaking barriers and making history must be celebrated. Ortiz can right his wrong, especially after Ohtani’s big night, and hopefully, he makes an effort to do so.