Ohtani, Judge Earn Unanimous MVPs, Lindor Finishes Second

It’s unanimous. Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge are MVPs.

Ohtani won his first National League MVP award by unanimous vote after leading the league in home runs, RBIs, runs, OPS, bWAR and posting the first 50-50 season in history, MLB announced Thursday. Judge hit 58 home runs and drove in 144 to earn the American League honor in unanimous fashion as well.

Francisco Lindor, one of three finalists for the award, finished second, the highest he’s placed in his career. He earned 23 out of 30 second-place votes. His previous best finish was fifth in 2017 with Cleveland. It was the sixth time Lindor finished in the top 10 of MVP voting. He came in ninth with the Mets in 2022 and 2023.

Ohtani, 30, who won two MVPs with the Los Angeles Angels in the American League in 2021 and 2023, had his best season yet. He hit 54 home runs, eclipsing his career high by 10, drove in 130 runs, scored 134 runs, and slashed .310/.390/.646/1.036. His 9.2 bWAR was all the more impressive considering he was a designated hitter. He stole 59 bases and was caught just four times. Aside from homers, he set career-bests in RBIs, doubles, stolen bases, hits and runs. In the first year of his 10-year, $700 million contract, he set the Dodgers franchise record for home runs in a season.

Ohtani was second in the N.L. in hitting, coming up four points shy of a Triple Crown – Luis Arráez hit .314. The National League has not had a Triple Crown winner since Joe Medwick (.374 batting average, 31 HRs, 154 RBIs) did it for the Cardinals in 1937.

Ohtani is the first primary DH to win the award and the second to win it in both leagues. Frank Robinson was the NL MVP for the Reds in 1961 and the AL MVP for the Orioles in 1966. Ohtani is the 13th Dodger to win the award and the first since Cody Bellinger in 2019.

He is the eighth player to win the MVP with more than one team: Barry Bonds (Pirates, Giants), Jimmie Foxx (A’s, Red Sox), Alex Rodriguez (Rangers, Yankees), Rogers Hornsby (Cardinals, Cubs), Mickey Cochrane (A’s, Tigers), Bryce Harper (Nationals, Phillies) and Robinson.

Judge wins his second MVP with a career-high 10.8 bWAR and a .322/.458/.701/1.159 slash line. He led the AL in home runs, RBIs, walks, OPS, and bWAR. He was third in the A.L. in hitting, 10 points behind batting champ Bobby Witt Jr., who finished second in MVP voting.

The 32-year-old, nine-year veteran’s 223 OPS+, which adjusts for ballparks, was the best in baseball since Bonds’ 263 for the Giants in 2004. It was the best in the A.L. since 1957 when Ted Williams put up 233 for the Red Sox.

Judge, who set career bests in RBIs, walks, doubles, and OPS, becomes the seventh Yankee to win multiple MVPs. He joins Rodriguez (2), Mickey Mantle (3), Roger Maris (2), Yogi Berra (3), Joe DiMaggio (3) and Lou Gehrig (2).

When Judge won his first MVP in 2022, Ohtani finished second.

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