Shohei Ohtani or Pete Crow-Armstrong? MLB Players Vote on NL MVP Race
ESPN polled MLB players who took a clear side in the NL MVP race between Shohei Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong.
An MLB player poll has revealed that a National League MVP race between Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and Los Angeles Dodgers phenom Shohei Ohtani may not be as tight as initially thought. According to ESPN's Jesse Rogers, 15 players voted for Crow-Armstrong to take the MVP title away from Ohtani, who is aiming for his fourth consecutive MVP and fifth of the last six seasons.
Four players supported Ohtani, while two believed the stars should share the award. Ohtani has been dominating with a .949 OPS at the plate and a 1.79 ERA over 14 starts, but he hasn't pitched since July 3. Meanwhile, Crow-Armstrong has hit 31 homers and stolen 31 bases, along with providing elite defense in center field, leading all position players with 24 outs above average.
Cleveland Guardians first baseman Rhys Hoskins pointed out that Crow-Armstrong's exceptional glove work has made him a more impactful player for his team, especially with Ohtani currently focusing on hitting as a designated hitter. Cleveland Guardians first baseman Rhys Hoskins stated, "In the true sense of the word, the guy that plays every day probably makes more of an impact on the team every single day."
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Brady Singer added, "If Ohtani was pitching, it would probably be him. PCA has been incredible. Super fun to watch. He's electric." However, Ohtani remains a top-shelf slugger who has pitched like a Cy Young Award candidate for three months, and some, like Chicago White Sox catcher Drew Romo, still believe he is the greatest player of all time.
Momentum appears to be shifting behind Crow-Armstrong, who has become the new MVP betting favorite on FanDuel Sportsbook.
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