Shohei Ohtani Unanimously Beats Francisco Lindor for MVP in First Season With Dodgers
One of the greatest seasons in Major League Baseball history was capped off the only way it should — with an MVP award.
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has officially and unanimously won the National League Most Valuable Player award for the 2024 season, beating out New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor. Ohtani got all 30 first-place votes. With the win, Ohtani becomes the first exclusive designated hitter to win the award. He’s also the first player in MLB history to unanimously win three MVPs — no one else has done it more than once.
Ohtani is coming off one of the most dominant offensive seasons ever, as he set career-highs in home runs, hits, runs scored, runs batted in, doubles, and stolen bases, and invented the 50 home run, 50 stolen base club, finishing with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases.
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Ohtani, normally a two-way star, didn’t pitch in 2024 as he recovered from surgery to repair a torn UCL. However, while recovering from the devastating injury, he took his offensive game to a whole new level.
Ohtani was the leading force on a Dodgers team that finished with the best record in MLB, and, of course, went on to win the World Series. However, this is a regular season award, and Ohtani’s regular season was one for the ages.
The Dodgers signed Ohtani last December to a 10-year, $700 million deal. Ohtani spent the first six years of his career with the Los Angeles Angels, where he won two American League MVP awards, but never reached the postseason.
Ohtani came to the Dodgers because he wanted an opportunity to win, but L.A. wouldn’t have been able to win this year without him.
Ohtani was the leading catalyst for the 2024 Dodgers, finishing with a 9.1 fWAR, well ahead of Lindor’s 7.8. Ohtani’s 9.2 bWAR was significantly above Lindor’s bWAR of 7.0. Ohtani accumulated those numbers while only hitting.
Ohtani began the year as the team’s No. 2 hitter, but stepped into the leadoff spot in June when Mookie Betts suffered a fracture in his hand. Ohtani didn’t give that spot up the rest of the year, as he went on a torrid stretch that locked up the MVP award.
Ohtani had tons of great moments throughout his 2024 campaign — including a walk-off grand slam to enter the 40/40 club — but none were bigger than his 6-for-6 performance against the Miami Marlins on Sept. 19 that etched him into the history books.
Ohtani hit three home runs, drove in 10 RBIs, recorded two stolen bases, and officially invented both the 50/50 and 51/51 clubs. It was arguably the greatest single game performance in MLB history
With his MVP officially locked up, Ohtani joins elite company, becoming only the 12th player in MLB history to win three MVPs. Ohtani is also just the second player in MLB history to win an MVP in both the AL and NL, joining Frank Robinson. He’s the first ever exclusive DH to win the award.
Ohtani’s MVP caps off the greatest season of his career. In his first season with the Dodgers, Ohtani invented the 50/50 club, set career-highs across the board, made his first postseason appearance, won his first ever World Series, and now unanimously won the NL MVP award.
Year one of 10 was a greater success than anyone could have imagined for Ohtani and the Dodgers. Now, he’ll look to replicate that in 2025 — but this time, while also pitching.
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Photo Credit: Owen Ziliak/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
