As the 2024 MLB season comes to a close, the MVP conversation has been dominated by two names: Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Both players have delivered seasons that will be remembered for years, cementing their legacies as two of the most transcendent athletes of their era. Let’s take a closer look at their incredible seasons, why they stand far above the rest, and how they compare to the all-time greats who have hoisted the MVP trophy in the past.

Aaron Judge has once again proven why he is the heart and soul of the New York Yankees. After a historic 2022 campaign where he set the American League home run record with 62 long balls, Judge came into the 2024 season with a target on his back—and yet, he somehow exceeded expectations.

​Home Run Dominance and Offensive Firepower
Judge’s season has been nothing short of spectacular. He powered his way to 58 home runs, leading the league in both homers and RBIs with 134. His ability to hit for power is matched only by his capacity to get on base, boasting a .430 on-base percentage and a .320 batting average. His bat was the most feared in the league, and he carried the Yankees to a playoff berth almost single-handedly.

But what makes Aaron Judge stand out this season isn't just his numbers—it's the timeliness of his hits. Judge came up clutch in critical moments throughout the season, belting walk-off home runs and game-winning hits against division rivals. His OPS of 1.090 was the highest in the majors, reinforcing the idea that every time he stepped to the plate, something magical could happen.

When you look back at the all-time great MVP winners like Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, and Mickey Mantle, Judge’s 2024 season fits comfortably among those historic campaigns. His power, presence, and consistency recall Ruth’s dominance in the 1920s, while his leadership on and off the field brings echoes of Mantle’s reign during the Yankees’ dynasty years.

​Aaron Judge's ability to hit the long ball while maintaining a high average puts him in rarefied air. Few sluggers in history have combined raw power with such precision at the plate. It is this combination that makes him a standout candidate for the 2024 MVP.

While Aaron Judge has redefined power hitting, Shohei Ohtani has redefined what it means to be a baseball player. The Japanese superstar, now with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has once again captivated the baseball world with his otherworldly talent as both a pitcher and a hitter.

Dominating on the Mound and at the Plate
Ohtani’s 2024 season was nothing short of historic. As a pitcher, he posted a 2.42 ERA across 186 innings, racking up 219 strikeouts and finishing among the league leaders in both categories. His ability to shut down opposing lineups with an arsenal of devastating pitches—featuring a splitter that batters simply could not handle—has made him one of the best pitchers in baseball.

But Ohtani didn’t stop there. At the plate, he smashed 46 home runs and drove in 105 RBIs, all while hitting .285 with a .980 OPS. His offensive output alone would have made him a serious MVP contender, but when combined with his prowess on the mound, Ohtani has created a season that defies belief.

Ohtani’s two-way dominance puts him in a category of his own. While comparisons are often made to Babe Ruth, who also pitched and hit at a high level, Ruth never did both simultaneously at the level Ohtani has in the modern era. Ohtani’s ability to maintain elite performance in two fundamentally different aspects of the game—pitching and hitting—has no real historical parallel.

When considering MVP candidates, no one can boast a more complete package than Shohei Ohtani. His blend of pitching dominance and offensive firepower makes him an unprecedented force, and his 2024 campaign will go down as one of the greatest all-around seasons in baseball history.

Both Judge and Ohtani stand out not only because of their stats, but because of how they play the game.

Aaron Judge’s sheer size and power make him an imposing figure at the plate, but his athleticism and defensive abilities in right field also set him apart. Despite being 6'7", Judge moves with surprising agility, and his strong arm has gunned down runners at crucial moments. He plays the game with passion, and his leadership in the clubhouse elevates everyone around him.

Ohtani, on the other hand, is a marvel of versatility. His combination of pitching power and hitting finesse has never been seen at this level. His pitching mechanics are flawless, his control pinpoint. At the plate, his swing is a thing of beauty—smooth, efficient, and deadly. Ohtani’s ability to switch between pitching and hitting without a drop in performance is what truly makes him the unicorn of baseball.

The MVP award is voted on by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA), and each writer ranks their top 10 candidates. The voting is done on a points system: 14 points for a first-place vote, 9 for second place, and so on. With Judge and Ohtani dominating their respective leagues, it’s clear that both will receive the majority of first-place votes in their leagues.

Aaron Judge is expected to garner 70-75% of the first-place votes in the American League, with his nearest competitors lagging far behind. His consistent performance throughout the season, especially in clutch moments, will likely sway voters in his favor.

In the National League, Shohei Ohtani could very well capture 85-90% of first-place votes, as no other player has matched his impact on both sides of the ball. Ohtani’s combination of pitching and hitting makes him a near-lock for the award, and it’s difficult to imagine anyone else stealing votes from him.
​
​Both players have redefined what it means to be great in their respective ways, and their seasons will go down as some of the best in history. These two superstars have given fans a season to remember, and their names will forever be etched into baseball lore when the MVP votes are counted.