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Shohei Ohtani denied MVP history as Pete Crow-Armstrong wins in landslide
Shohei Ohtani finished second in National League MVP voting after an injury-hit 2026 season, ending his bid to match Barry Bonds’ record of four consecutive awards. Chicago Cubs centre fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong won unanimously, combining a strong second half at the plate with elite defence.
Ohtani had started the season in outstanding form as both a hitter and pitcher, but knee and arm problems disrupted his campaign and he stopped pitching after the All-Star break. Crow-Armstrong finished ahead in batting average (.280 to .275), OPS (.943 to .889), home runs (45 to 30), runs batted in (107 to 81) and stolen bases (41 to 11); his FanGraphs wins above replacement was 10.6, compared with Ohtani’s 6.6. Ohtani went 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts, and has four career MVPs.
In short
- Crow-Armstrong won the NL MVP unanimously.
- Ohtani’s injury-disrupted season ended his four-peat bid.
- Crow-Armstrong led Ohtani in key hitting stats and WAR.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Crow-Armstrong’s case rests on a more complete and productive season: he led Ohtani in the listed hitting categories, added elite centre-field defence and finished well ahead in wins above replacement. His supporters can argue that MVP voting should recognise the player who contributed most across the season, and that his unanimous win reflects that broad value.
The case against
Ohtani’s supporters can argue that his unusual two-way contribution deserves special weight: before injuries curtailed his pitching, he excelled both on the mound and at the plate, and he still finished second despite missing part of that role. They may see his eight wins and 1.79 ERA in 14 starts, alongside four previous MVPs, as evidence that his season’s value is not fully captured by batting comparisons or a single overall metric.
Explained simply
The Major League Baseball (MLB) season ends with awards for outstanding players in each league. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) award recognises a player’s overall contribution, including both batting and fielding; voters consider performance across the season.
Shohei Ohtani plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers and is known for both hitting and pitching. Pete Crow-Armstrong is a centre fielder for the Chicago Cubs, where his role includes hitting and defending the large area of outfield behind the infield.
Ohtani’s previous MVP awards put him among baseball’s most decorated players, while Crow-Armstrong’s win marks a major individual achievement. The comparison matters because it shows how voters weigh different contributions, including a player’s value in the field as well as at bat.