Clayton Kershaw Announces Shohei Ohtani as the 2024 NL MVP
In an unexpected and dramatic twist, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw announced on social media this week that Shohei Ohtani, the two-way star from the Angels, would be awarded the 2024 National League MVP. The news sent shockwaves through the sports world, given Ohtani’s current status as a member of the American League’s Los Angeles team. Yet, this announcement is far from the typical Major League Baseball MVP selection process. It signals a seismic shift in both the way the sport is perceived and its ongoing evolution in terms of cross-league narratives and player recognition.
Ohtani, whose unprecedented talent has garnered global attention over the last few seasons, has long been seen as the future of baseball. His ability to dominate both as a pitcher and as a hitter has left fans and experts alike in awe. However, despite all of his accomplishments, Ohtani’s impact is not confined solely to his remarkable statistics. Rather, it is his transcendent abilities that could make him the first player in history to challenge the traditional structures of the sport, to the point of even claiming MVP honors in the opposite league.
The Unprecedented Rise of Shohei Ohtani
To understand why this announcement is so extraordinary, it is necessary to reflect on Ohtani’s career up to this point. Shohei Ohtani’s journey from Japan to Major League Baseball (MLB) began in 2018 when he signed with the Los Angeles Angels. Over the course of his career, he has redefined what it means to be a two-way player in modern baseball, a feat so rare that it has often been considered unattainable. His unique blend of power hitting and elite pitching is something that had been thought impossible since Babe Ruth’s time, and yet Ohtani has not only matched but often surpassed expectations.
Throughout his tenure with the Angels, Ohtani has posted remarkable statistics, including several seasons with 40+ home runs and double-digit wins as a pitcher. In 2021, he became the first player in MLB history to hit over 40 home runs and pitch over 130 innings in the same season, an achievement that earned him the AL MVP. However, his time in the AL has been marked by frustration for both him and the Angels, as the team has consistently underperformed in a division dominated by the Houston Astros.
Despite these struggles, Ohtani’s legacy as one of the greatest players of his generation has only grown stronger. However, the 2024 season is poised to take his career to another level, with an unexpected twist.
Kershaw’s Bold Declaration
So, why did Clayton Kershaw, one of the most respected pitchers of the modern era and a leader of the Dodgers, take the opportunity to make this startling announcement? The timing of the announcement suggests that Kershaw may be making a statement not only about Ohtani’s skill but also about his own views on the future of the sport. Kershaw, who has faced Ohtani as both a hitter and a pitcher throughout their careers, is no stranger to the player’s otherworldly abilities. In interviews, Kershaw has repeatedly spoken about his admiration for Ohtani’s work ethic and versatility, calling him “one of the most impressive athletes I’ve ever seen.”
The decision to name Ohtani as the 2024 NL MVP can be seen as Kershaw’s tribute to a player he believes is already playing at an MVP caliber, regardless of his league affiliation. Kershaw’s tweet read: “Shohei Ohtani’s greatness transcends league boundaries. If there’s one player who can be MVP in any league, it’s him. #NLMVP2024.”
While Kershaw’s words are not official and do not reflect the actual voting process, they spark an important conversation about the direction in which the sport is heading. In an era where cross-league play is becoming more common—whether through All-Star Game selections or international competitions—Ohtani’s achievements seem too significant to be confined within the structure of the American League alone.
A Changing Landscape for the MVP Award
While the MVP award is traditionally split between the leagues, there has long been talk of a more unified award, one that could truly encompass all the greatest players in the game, regardless of which league they call home. The idea of merging the MVP award into a single category has been debated for years by analysts and fans who believe that the divide between the leagues is increasingly arbitrary.
In Ohtani’s case, such a merger makes even more sense. He has, in effect, created his own category by simultaneously excelling in both pitching and hitting—two roles that are typically kept separate in the minds of baseball purists. The idea of Ohtani being deemed the best player in the NL, despite playing for an AL team, further blurs the lines between traditional expectations and the current state of the game.
While Ohtani’s announcement as the 2024 NL MVP is, of course, not official, it does open the door to the possibility of a new, more inclusive view of what it means to be the most valuable player in Major League Baseball. The concept of MVP has always been based on individual excellence, but perhaps it’s time to redefine the term to include players who transcend boundaries—those like Ohtani who defy what was once thought possible.
The Case for Ohtani in the NL
Kershaw’s declaration is certainly bold, but there is no denying that Ohtani’s brilliance would be welcomed in any league. His presence in the National League would certainly shake things up. The NL has long been dominated by batters, and while there are numerous contenders for the MVP award every season—players like Mookie Betts, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Freddie Freeman—none offer the unique blend of skills that Ohtani brings.
His pitching prowess alone, with a fastball that can touch 100 mph and a devastating splitter, would make him a perennial Cy Young contender in the National League. Meanwhile, his bat has regularly rivaled the best hitters in the game. In 2024, Ohtani has already shown glimpses of his power, hitting moonshots that have captivated fans across the globe.
Though Ohtani will likely remain in the AL for the foreseeable future, the conversation surrounding his potential NL MVP nomination reflects a growing recognition of his universal value to the sport. As we continue to see boundary-breaking performances from the league’s stars, the idea of a “true” MVP may come to reflect an evolution in both the game and the players who define it.
Conclusion
As the MLB continues to evolve, Ohtani’s incredible blend of talents challenges long-held conventions. Clayton Kershaw’s announcement that Ohtani should be crowned the 2024 NL MVP might be more symbolic than anything else, but it marks a moment where baseball’s most prominent figures acknowledge that greatness cannot be confined to the arbitrary divisions of leagues. Shohei Ohtani, as one of the most electrifying players of this generation, truly deserves a place in baseball’s history, regardless of what league he plays in. And perhaps, in the near future, we’ll witness a world where the MVP award reflects that shift—a world where the best player in all of baseball can transcend the borders between leagues, as Ohtani has done time and time again.