The MVP debate rages on in the American League, with Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge being the two clear candidates to win the award.
In the other corner, there is Ohtani, the two-way superstar and reigning MVP who continues to amaze with his ability to be prolific at the plate and on the mound, dominating the game in both phases in a way unseen since the likes of Babe Ruth.
It’s hard to argue against a player who is posting an .889 OPS with 34 home runs while also pitching to a 2.55 ERA in 24 starts, but if you ask one of Judge’s division rivals, the award should go to the Yankee slugger.
“To be honest, I think if they give it to Shohei Ohtani it will be another steal,” Vladimir Guerrero said, with an obvious nod to Judge losing out on the MVP to Jose Altuve in 2017. “Aaron Judge's numbers are way above Ohtani's. Ohtani is an excellent player, but for me, the MVP has to be Aaron Judge.”
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the 2022 AL MVP: "To be honest, I think if they give it to Shohei Ohtani it will be another steal. Aaron Judge's numbers are way above Ohtani's. Ohtani is an excellent player, but for me, the MVP has to be Aaron Judge."@z101digital @ZDeportes pic.twitter.com/nT59bSTJcZ
— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) September 15, 2022
Judge’s numbers are certainly above Ohtani’s offensively, as is his overall WAR. But it is certain to be a tight race given Ohtani being an All-Star pitcher as well, though Judge does contribute in the field every night, playing a passable center field in a season where the Yankees didn’t have another productive outfielder capable of playing the position.
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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