It’s not quite the dog days of summer, but it’s the time of the baseball season when the sample size is large enough that experts begin to predict winners for various MLB awards.
And few garner the respect afforded to being a league MVP.
Any discussion of that award in the National League must begin with Los Angeles Dodgers sensation Shohei Ohtani, who is now the odds-on favorite to receive the hardware for the NL.
The versatile Ohtani is not pitching this season and is currently a designated hitter in LA, but his numbers are off the charts.
MLB expert Ken Rosenthal told Foul Territory that Ohtani “continues to amaze.”
Shohei Ohtani continues to amaze @Ken_Rosenthal pic.twitter.com/9yYyav7EMr
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) June 27, 2024
The insider light-heartedly pushed back at anyone who would express frustration with the level of attention the Dodgers star commands by declaring that Ohtani is simply “the best player” in the game right now.
How so?
Ohtani is currently hitting a league-leading .322, has 25 home runs to top the NL, and has scored 65 runs in 79 games, yet another league-topping statistic.
How about 21 doubles and 100 hits less than halfway through the 2024 season to pad his MVP resume?
The Mookie Betts fractured hand opened the door wide for his Japanese teammate, and Ohtani stepped through.
Imagine in years to come when the sensation is pitching again and just how difficult it will be for any major leaguer to wrest away the MVP trophy.
Baseball is a fickle sport, and injuries are always possible, but Ohtani is the clear frontrunner for NL MVP as we prepare for July baseball.
