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Top 10 AL MVP candidates in a shortened MLB season

By Scott Edwards

ST PETERSBURG, FL - JUNE 14: Mike Trout #27 and Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels get ready to bat against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on June 14, 2019 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FL - JUNE 14: Mike Trout #27 and Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels get ready to bat against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on June 14, 2019 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 28: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a double in the first inning of the game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on August 28, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 28: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a double in the first inning of the game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on August 28, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. DH | P. 7. player. Los Angeles Angels. Shohei Ohtani. 102

All eyes on “Showtime.” Now, you may get to this point and thought in your head this could be a preposterous placement for a guy who is still somewhat unproven. That’s why I am here. To explain that Shohei Ohtani can make the jump in his third season to be known as one of baseball’s best. He brings something to the MLB that no one has seen in a long time. And in 2020, he can put it all back together for a potential MVP campaign.

Towards the end of the 2018 season, Ohtani was forced to be shut down so that he could undergo Tommy John surgery. During that season, he captured the AL Rookie of the Year award by displaying his incredible ability on the mound and at the plate. With the surgery done, he spent 2019 focusing solely on his bat and delivered excellent numbers.

In 106 games, Ohtani hit .286 at the plate with 18 home runs, 62 RBI, 12 stolen bases, and a solid .848 OPS. Not too bad for the “Japanese Babe Ruth” as they once called him when he signed with the league. But what gives him the opportunity of taking home the MVP award this year is his return to the mound.

The Los Angeles Angels have a struggle when it comes to pitching and the gas-throwing Ohtani may be able to fix that with his return to the rotation. 60 games only help Ohtani in this case, as he should avoid being shut down due to an innings limit and will be able to rip it from the start. It’s a unique season, so why not have the league’s most unique player win the MVP?

Listen, there is no true idea of how Ohtani will be handled this season. But the idea that he will not only become their ace but also will have the luxury of batting fourth behind Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon is something that you’d be crazy to not at least consider here.

60 game season is a weird animal in itself. But in his third year as a member of the MLB, this could be the year of Ohtani.

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