Can Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers win the MVP of the designated hitter for the first time in history.

Since the designated hitter system was introduced in the American League in 1973, a designated hitter has never won a regular season MVP award until last year. However, with the National League also starting to use designated hitter in 2022, chances are growing that Ohtani, who moved to the NL this season, will become the first designated hitter MVP.메이저놀이터

As of Friday (Korea time), Ohtani is the top in seven categories of basic and expanded statistics: batting average (0.322), scoring (65), home run (25), slugging percentage (0.643), OPS (1.045), slugging (48) and ruta (200). In addition, OPS+ (194) is the top in sabermetrics, while bWAR (4.7) and fWAR (4.5) are overwhelmingly the top in the NL.

Bryce Harper, who is leading the Philadelphia Phillies leading the league in winning percentage, stands out, but if MVP voting proceeds now, Ohtani could reach a unanimous vote. Harper is ranked fourth in bWAR (4.1), and second in fWAR (4.0).

In addition, Ohtani also has the possibility of a triple crown. The most recent example of a triple crown is Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers in 2012. However, he had not played in the NL for 86 years since Joe Medwick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1937. With 61 RBIs, Ohtani ranked third after Alec Bohm (65) of the Philadelphia Phillies and Marcel Ozuna (64) of the Atlanta Braves, but the gap narrowed significantly in June.

In response, MLB.com said, "I have bigger goals in mind. We don't really talk about the playoffs that avoided him when he was with the Angels. Rather, for example, it's like a triple crown that came out just once in the last 57 years (Miguel Cabrera in 2012)." "Otani is the No. 1 hitter in batting average, No. 1 in homers, and No. 3 in RBIs in the NL, just four shy of No. 1 ranking. Are these the most meaningful data-driven statistics in today's MLB? There is still a long way to go. If so, will it still be a monumental achievement if Ohtani achieves the triple crown that only 10 players have achieved so far?"

The triple crown is not the greatest record, but it is an "all-time" achievement to win the MVP award.

If Ohtani becomes the MVP of the designated hitter, there is a player who will be evaluated with an extraordinary eye, drawing attention. It is New York Mets JD Martinez. Born in 1987, he is gradually approaching his retirement period, but he is still showing sharp bat skills.

Martinez's career high was in 2018 when he was with the Boston Red Sox. In the same year, he hit 0.330, 43 homers, 130 RBIs and an OPS of 1.031, but only ranked fourth in the AL MVP vote. His colleague Mookie Betts (currently with the Dodgers) was named the AL MVP.

"Baseball reporters will never allow a designated hitter to be named MVP," Martinez told the BBWAA in an interview with the Massachusetts-based newspaper The Eagle-Tribune. "It's a group that has a different idea than many others," he said. "Reporters have hidden intentions in voting for certain players. What does a reporter want to be? Who does he work for?" he said openly expressing his discomfort.

Designated hitters are valued different from those of ordinary fielders because they do not defend. Some call them "half-players." MLB.com said Martinez's reasoning was beside the point, but the overall point was correct. "It is because designated hitters cannot create any value in the field of defense," adding, "It is very difficult for a designated hitter to outperform all other players, who are considered most valuable in terms of attack and defense contribution."

However, the situation is different this season. Ohtani received Tommy John Surgery meant to be rehabilitated as a pitcher. Analysts say that he is focusing only on batting and producing career-high scores.

In an interview with MLB.com , Ohtani said, "Realistically, the burden has been reduced a lot. I can't deny that. But at the same time, I think I have developed as a batter and as a whole, I think I have developed as a batter," adding, "I try to swing the bat on strikes that I actually have at bat, and I focus on making sure that my form and everything are consistent."

And he expressed satisfaction with his performance in the first half of this year, his first season after moving to the Dodgers, saying, "Looking back, it's a very good first half."