Only met Ohtani and Schwarber is eligible, the advent of the era of designated hitter MVP
Nov 11, 2025
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According to the BBWAA (National Baseball Journalists Association) released on the 4th (Korea time), the ratio of the number of games in which six MVP candidates from both leagues started as designated hitters this year was 44.5%. It is the highest percentage ever.
Let's look at it specifically.
First of all, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers is a designated hitter who does not need an explanation. On days when he did not start, he always played as a designated hitter for leadoff. He started 144 games as a designated hitter and 14 games as a pitcher, respectively.
Philadelphia Phillies Kyle Schwarber also specializes in designated hitters. Schwaber, who played in the foreground game, was listed in the starting lineup in 154 games as a designated hitter and eight games as a left fielder, respectively. New York Mets Juan Soto played as a right fielder in 157 games and as a designated hitter in three games.
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Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees has 95 games as a right fielder and 56 as a designated hitter. Since its debut in 2016, the ratio of designated hitters (37.1%) has been the second highest after 2023. This is because Judge suffered an elbow injury in July and was committed to designated hitter until early September after returning on August 6. Anyway, the designated hitter must be a familiar position because Judge started at a 20% percentage in his career.
Cleveland Indians Jose Ramirez started 132 games as a third baseman and 26 games as a designated hitter, respectively. Designated hitters account for 16.5%.
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No matter what anyone says, the biggest issue is whether Ohtani will also unanimously win his fourth MVP in his life. In 2021, when he became the home run king for the first time in his career, and in 2024, when he achieved 50 home runs and 50 steals in his first season after moving to the Dodgers, no reporters disagreed with 'Otani=MVP'.
However, it is difficult to be sure that all 30 NL voting reporters will support Ohtani again this year. This is because attention should be paid to the performance of Schwarber, who specializes in designated hitters.
He ranked first in NL home runs (56) and first in RBIs in both leagues (132). It should be clearly evaluated that he scored a career high in all statistical categories and led Philadelphia to win the NL East.
In particular, Schwarber was selected as the major league players' union (MLBPA's) 'NL Outstanding Player' at the end of last month. The award is determined by a vote of Major League Baseball players. In other words, the players judged that Schwarber had a better season than Ohtani.
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Ironically, it should be entirely to Ohtani's credit that the designated hitter is showing strength in the MVP vote. He became the MVP of the designated hitter last year for the first time since the appearance of the designated hitter in 1973.
Previously, the designated hitter could not be named MVP because of the perception that he was not playing defense. This perception changed as Ohtani appeared and established a historical great achievement. Let's reflect on what Ohtani said again last year, which will be close to 50-50 in the world.
Freddie Freeman said, `I always thought designated hitters shouldn't be MVP. However, seeing Ohtani do it this year, it's hard to maintain that thought. We have to reconsider that the designated hitter cannot be the MVP."
Clayton Kershaw, who retired at the end of this season, said "MVP should cover all the most valuable things. It is clear that defense plays a role in certain areas, but if the offense is too good, it is worth it in itself. Ohtani is qualified as MVP.
Schwaber deserves this kind of praise. However, he only met Ohtani this year. If even one of the leave votes came out, it would have been directed to Schwarber.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
