Shohei Ohtani's latest season was nothing short of extraordinary. Before Thursday night, when he won his third Most Valuable Player Award unanimously and became only the second player to earn this honor in both leagues, his journey was already marked by brilliance. Ohtani authored one of the finest individual performances in baseball history, slugging 54 home runs and swiping 59 bases to become the first-ever member of baseball's 50-50 club while hitting.310 with a National League-leading 1.036 OPS. Despite only appearing as a designated hitter and not playing the field, he outperformed New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte.

Ohtani's Unparalleled Season Statistics

Ohtani earned all 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America, amassing 420 points. Lindor finished second with 23 second-place votes and 263 points, while Marte finished third with five second-place votes and 229 points. His first season with the Dodgers was filled with challenges, including a recovery from a second elbow ligament reconstruction that limited him to hitting. A flood of life circumstances added to the complexity of the year, yet his brilliance remained. 1: The numbers speak for themselves. Ohtani's slugging ability and base-stealing prowess were truly remarkable. Slugging 54 home runs in a season is an astonishing feat, and adding 59 stolen bases to that is even more impressive. His.310 batting average and 1.036 OPS led the National League, showing his dominance at the plate. Even without playing the field, his offensive contributions were enough to earn him the MVP award. 2: Comparing Ohtani to other players, such as Francisco Lindor and Ketel Marte, highlights his exceptional performance. Lindor had an.844 OPS with 33 home runs and 29 stolen bases, while Marte had 36 home runs and a.932 OPS in 136 games. Ohtani outproduced them by both Baseball-Reference (9.2 to 7.0) and FanGraphs' (9.1 to 7.8) formulas for wins above replacement, demonstrating his value to the team.

Dodgers' Future with Ohtani at the Center

The Dodgers have already centered their next decade around Ohtani, from global business partnerships to how they will add stars to their already talented roster. One year after his arrival, the fruits of this vision have come to pass. Dodger Stadium was flooded with jerseys wearing Ohtani's name, and the club, despite being whittled down by injuries, managed to romp through October. 1: Ohtani's commitment to the Dodgers was evident, and his desire to play for a championship was fulfilled in his first year. His impact on the Dodger fan base, both domestically and globally, is immeasurable. The team has built their future around him, and it shows in the support he receives. 2: As the Dodgers move forward, they will face the challenge of maintaining their success while having a target on their back. Ohtani's presence will only increase the expectations, but the team is determined to continue doing their best and achieving their goals.

Ohtani's Quest for a Fourth MVP

Thursday cemented more rare history for Ohtani. No player not named Ohtani had ever won a unanimous MVP so much as twice. He and Mike Trout are the only active players to have won the award at least three times, and Bryce Harper and Aaron Judge are the only other active players to have won it more than once. 1: Ohtani's swap from Angels red to Dodgers blue added a new dimension to his career. While his two-way excellence led him to his first two MVPs with the Angels, this year's achievement came without throwing a single pitch. His quest for a fourth MVP has already begun, with expectations high for his return to the mound in 2025. 2: Ohtani's recovery from shoulder surgery to repair his left (non-throwing) labrum is a crucial step in his journey. He has had his stitches removed and been cleared to start core and lower-body exercises. While his goal is to return as both a hitter and pitcher for Opening Day, the team will exercise caution to ensure his health.