Shohei Ohtani predictions: Projecting how many MVPs (and Cy Youngs) MLB superstar will win in his career

In all probability, two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will win the American League MVP Thursday night. He will be commemorated as an Angels participant, however he is lately a unfastened agent. He’s going to develop into the thirty second participant in MLB historical past to win more than one MVPs. It’s a gaggle headed up through Barry Bonds’ seven and is going all of the as far back as the likes of Walter Johnson, Mickey Cochrane and Rogers Hornsby. 

The checklist will get much more unique after we require a 3rd MVP. Ten avid gamers have gained a minimum of 3 MVPs whilst Bonds has seven. Here’s the checklist:

• Barry Bonds: 7 (1990, 1992-93, 2001-04)
• Jimmie Foxx: 3 (1932-33, 1938)
• Joe DiMaggio: 3 (1939, 1941, 1947)
• Stan Musial: 3 (1943, 1946, 1948)
• Roy Campanella: 3 (1951, 1953, 1955)
• Yogi Berra: 3 (1951, 1954-55)
• Mickey Mantle: 3 (1956-57, 1960)
• Mike Schmidt: 3 (1980-81, 1986)
• Alex Rodriguez: 3 (2003, 2005, 2007)
• Albert Pujols: 3 (2005, 2008-09)
• Mike Trout: 3 (2014, 2016, 2019)  

Ohtani has principally been ready to have 3 seasons the place he was once with reference to wholesome sufficient to be a full-time, two-way participant. He gained two MVPs and it took a historical season from Aaron Judge to power Ohtani into the runner-up spot in 2022. 

I convey this up as a result of it is transparent that, throughout his top, Ohtani is extremely prone to win MVP in each and every two-way season except there is a historical season up in opposition to him. 

Oh, Ohtani additionally completed fourth in Cy Young balloting in 2022 and he is indubitably were given sufficient ability to win that award, too. 

Everyone can most likely see the place that is heading, so let’s simply get to it. How many MVPs and Cy Youngs will Ohtani win in his career? Let’s try to accurately expect. 

Cy Young

The AL Cy Young race was once in truth a fairly open box. Had Ohtani have shyed away from damage and closed sturdy, he would’ve had a valid probability to win it. And to reiterate, he completed fourth in balloting in 2022. That was once with 28 begins, so he may now not even want a season with 30-plus begins in order to win the award.

On the opposite hand, he is now had elbow surgical operation two times. Given how necessary his bat is, there is a distinct chance that every other arm damage method he is close down from pitching eternally. There’s additionally the danger that Ohtani might be moved to a reduction function as a substitute of starter sooner or later, making him a combo DH/nearer, which might be a wide variety of amusing. That would nonetheless give him a number of bonus issues in any MVP race, however it is a lot harder for closers to win the Cy Young at the present time. 

While I indubitably assume it is believable to argue that Ohtani will win a Cy Young sooner or later, I believe the most secure wager is he ends his career with out this one.

Predicted choice of career Cy Youngs: Zero.

MVP

Next season, Ohtani will solely be a hitter as his pitching arm recovers from surgical operation. Now, let’s be transparent: Ohtani can completely win the MVP as a DH. He hit .304/.412/.654 (184 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 8 triples, 44 homers, 95 RBI, 102 runs and 20 stolen bases in 135 video games final season. Put him on a staff with a greater offense and provides him 155 video games or so and that’s the reason an MVP season. 

Starting with 2025, confidently, we will be able to upload pitching again to the menu, too. 

As famous above, although Ohtani’s arm wishes a transfer to the bullpen, hanging up the ones roughly offensive numbers whilst appearing as a high-level nearer can be a cheat code in MVP balloting — now not just about up to being a starter, however nonetheless sufficient to offer Ohtani a big benefit of avid gamers who do not pitch. 

Ohtani is 29 years outdated at the moment. He does not have a frame sort that implies he’s going to age poorly. He runs neatly, however he is not a speed-only man the place we might fear about one thing like “once his speed goes, he’s done.” 

In truth, there is each and every explanation why to consider Ohtani ages rather neatly. We’re speaking a few freak of nature who insists on taking part in each and every unmarried day when now not injured. He does not even take the All-Star ruin off. Maybe he’s going to want to be just a little extra prepared to relaxation transferring into his 30s, however the whole lot from his bodily gear to his preparation suggests he will be extremely productive participant into his mid- and even late-30s. 

Ohtani is set to win his 2d MVP on a non-contender, however there is nonetheless a significant portion of the balloting bloc that would like he play for a contender. Let’s say he indicators with the Dodgers and so they win 100 video games subsequent 12 months whilst he produces principally the similar offensive season he did in 2023. I believe he would win MVP.

Then the pitching part will get added again to Ohtani’s sport for 2025 and past. 

It would not be an excessive amount of of a stretch to expect he finally ends up with one thing like 5 – 6 or perhaps a Bonds-tying seven MVPs. 

As I see it, despite the fact that, there are two components preserving him again from difficult Bonds. First up, there is voter fatigue and that’s the reason been confirmed to be an actual factor over and over. Voters merely become bored with hanging the similar participant first each and every season and will persuade themselves that any person else is extra worthy this time round.

There’s additionally the worry with Ohtani’s proper arm. It’s hell to head thru one elbow surgical operation, let by myself two. It’s distinctly conceivable that he’d need to surrender pitching inside of the following couple of years. Should that occur, it is much more tough to win MVP, particularly with all of the ridiculous younger ability in baseball at the moment.

I don’t assume that is the final time Ohtani wins MVP, however I’m reluctant to head loopy. I believe very assured he will get a 3rd. Past that, I’m now not assured in any respect. I’ll say he will get previous everybody with the exception of Bonds, despite the fact that, as a result of that may be amusing. 

Predicted choice of career MVPs: Four.