Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Shohei Ohtani is on fire. Keeping aside the recent gambling scandal in which he got embroiled unknowingly, Ohtani’s scorching bat has been the hottest story in the league right now. It was only recently that he even gifted his manager, Dave Roberts, a toy Porsche. Reason? Well, he officially became the Dodgers’ all-time home run leader for a Japanese player, surpassing Roberts himself! 

The two-way phenomenon’s dominance extends way beyond a playful gift. He is currently batting .355 with 11 home runs, 27 RBIs, and an eye-popping 1.13 OPS. This offensive explosion has even left baseball legends like Clayton Kershaw speechless. This drew some comments from Kershaw: “I don’t remember him ever being this good in Anaheim. Every ball he hits, he’s just so strong. He’s just amazing.”

There’s a catch here, though. ‘Shotime’ isn’t replicating this feat as a two-way player. The revolutionary talent that earned him two MVP awards may now be in danger due to his being only a DH. He’s solely focused on hitting as he recovers from Tommy John’s surgery. So, the question arises: can a designated hitter, a DH, ever win the MVP award?

History says no. While a few DHs, like Paul Molitor and David Ortiz, have come close, the prestigious award has always eluded them. Nevertheless, Shohei Ohtani isn’t your average DH.  He’s a global superstar, the highest-paid player in American sports history, and arguably the most electrifying player in baseball.

Here’s where things get interesting…

Here’s where things get interesting. Analyst Ben Verlander argues that apart from statistical factors, the aspect of him being ‘one-of-a-kind’ and immensely popular could be the x-factor that changes the MVP game. He went on to say, “He’s the biggest superstar the game has. That he brings what he does to the baseball world… I think it helps him.”

Now, it is important to remember that there could be other factors as well. The season is still young, and it’s worth noting that the Japanese import is still in the process of recovering from his “non-Tommy John-Tommy John” surgery. While the idea of popularity influencing MVP voting is certainly a possibility, it is not the ONLY factor that captivates fans and analysts worldwide.

Whether Ohtani can rewrite the MVP script with his bat alone remains to be seen.  One thing’s for sure: baseball is witnessing a season for the ages from a player unlike any other. And this might just be a brand new chapter in the sporting world.