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This past weekend, baseball’s two premier players made history triumphantly. Los Angeles Dodgers sensation Shohei Ohtani became the sixth player to go 40/40 (home runs and stolen bases) in a season. What Ohtani achieved is a rare feat in baseball, with only a handful of players achieving it in the sport's history. On the other end, New York Yankees supernova slugger Aaron Judge became the fifth player to hit 50+ home runs in three seasons of his career, a milestone that only a few players have reached.
Both players make the extraordinary seem serene. They capture fans' attention and make them gasp as they smash another home run out of the park with enough power to regenerate the Eiffel Tower. Ohtani and Judge are pure anomalies in baseball.
Ohtani and Judge are heavy favorites to win the MVP in their respective leagues, the AL (American League) and NL (National League). According to Fox Sports, Ohtani is favored at -2326 odds and Judge at -3030. The next closest favorites in their respective leagues are Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr (+850) and New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (+500), respectively.
Let’s make a case for both players in who is having the better season.
The Studpendous Shohei
Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images
When the Japanese baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani, often hailed as the best player, joined the Los Angeles Dodgers, it was a season of excitement for the fans. His presence on the diamond is a spectacle, whether he's striking out the best hitters, making incredible plays in the outfield, stealing bases, or hitting home runs. His impact on the game is undeniable, and his every move is a potential game-changer, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.
Ohtani's performance on Friday night against the Tampa Bay Rays in the Dodgers' 7-3 victory was nothing short of astonishing. He made history by becoming the sixth major leaguer to join the 40/40 club, achieving this feat in 126 games, the fastest in MLB history! His 40th base steal of the season, which he did with Freddie Freeman at-bat early in the fourth inning, displayed his elusiveness, reminiscent of a 100-meter dash track star.
The game only got more intense as it progressed, with Ohtani stepping up when his team needed him the most in the ninth inning. Ohtani's aura was palpable, with the score tied at three and all bases loaded. He would inevitably close out the game emphatically, and the audience could feel the moment's thrill as you felt the roars in the crowd with Ohtani's historic walk-off Grand Slam.
It's really more about the winning," Ohtani said through an interpreter. "Obviously the record is part of the process, but I think the most important thing is about winning the game."
“It's just storybook -- 40/40 on the same night," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "I don't know if that's ever been done, and then he wins it with a grand slam. He's definitely known for the dramatics, and this was something I'll remember for a long time."
Friday’s walk-off homer was the first of Ohtani’s career, marking his third grand slam to further cement his case as the NL MVP, which will mark the third in four seasons for the Japanese star. Ohtani cemented himself in an exclusive 40-40 club that features Jose Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996), Alex Rodriguez (1998), Alfonso Soriano (2006), and Ronald Acuna Jr. (2023).
He’s on pace to go for 50 homers and 50 stolen bases, making him the first in MLB history. No one has even had 45 homers and 45 stolen bases in a season. This season, the Dodgers star made it back-to-back 40+ home run seasons for the myth of Shohei Ohtani. He’s the runaway NL MVP as the designated hitter, and he’s not even pitching this season!
As of now, Ohtani is second in home runs (41), fourth in OPS (.994), and tied-5th in RBIs (94). The Dodgers currently sit atop the NL with the best record overall (78-53) and atop the NL West division.
The Astounding Aaron
Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Ohtani isn’t the only one laying claim to the record books this season, as Yankees star slugger Aaron Judge has been nothing short of phenomenal all season, leading the league in numerous categories from home runs (51), RBIs (122) and OPS (1.202). He also ranks second in batting average (.333).
Judge is coming off another superhuman game in the Yankee's Sunday 10-3 win over the Colorado Rockies, where he blasted two homers out of the park (three consecutive for the Yankees, with Juan Soto hitting one before) and recorded three RBIs in his four at-bat appearances. Last night, two homers put Judge in exclusive company, becoming the fifth player in MLB history to have three different seasons (2017, 2022, 2024) of his career to hit 50+ homers in a season, joining Babe Ruth (four times), Mark McGwire (four), Sammy Sosa (four), and Alex Rodriguez (three).
Although Judge joins such an illustrious list, he carved one for himself, becoming the first player to achieve such a feat in his first nine Major League seasons. He’s on pace to break his own American League home run record (62), which he set in his 2022 AL MVP season two years ago. With Judge making history once again, Soto suggested Judge can break Barry Bond's single-season 73 home run record:
“If there’s any guy in the league that can do it, I think it’s going to be him,” Soto said.
Judge became the fastest player to hit 300+ career homers in terms of at-bats and games played this season, further immortalizing himself as one of baseball’s legends.
“It’s unreal,” said Yankees DH Giancarlo Stanton. “He does something special every day. You almost take for granted how good he’s been, and what a staple he’s been for our offense and our team in general.”
“Honestly, I’m just running out of words, what he’s doing,” Yankees GM Aaron Boone said. “We’re getting on the train [to Washington]. I’ve got to get the thesaurus out and get to work, because it is amazing.”
The Yankees sit atop the AL East division (77-58). They hope to stay atop with the Baltimore Orioles creeping up on their heels a game and a half back in the standings for the division. If Judge keeps playing the way he has all season, Yankees fans will have much to be enthralled about for the rest of the regular season and postseason as they try to capture their first World Series since 2009.
Verdict
Is Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani having the better season?
Aaron Judge
"Showtime" Shohei!
Picking between Ohtani and Judge is a challenging task. Imagine being a voter trying to choose between the two for MVP in the AL in 2022. Good luck! It's a good thing Ohtani switched leagues! Both players are having historical seasons that have captured baseball fans' imaginations, and what these two transformational athletes are achieving is nothing short of remarkable.
I will give Ohtani a “very” slight edge due to him doing what he’s doing as the runaway NL MVP to most as a designated hitter. His impact on the game is still tremendous despite him not pitching this season or playing on the field. He’s the ultimate utility weapon.
But who do you think is having the better season? Comment below and vote on the poll!
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