Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way superstar, has been named one of three finalists for the 2026 National League Most Valuable Player Award. The announcement places him on the ballot alongside Milwaukee Brewers infielder Brice Turang and Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Despite Ohtani's well-documented struggles in the final months of the regular season and the postseason, his inclusion as a finalist is not surprising. However, this year's announcement carries a different weight, as Ohtani is not expected to win the award. Instead, Pete Crow-Armstrong is considered the favorite, which could mark the end of Ohtani's streak of three consecutive unanimous MVP Awards.
Crow-Armstrong holds an advantage over Ohtani in several key offensive statistics, including wins above replacement (WAR), home runs, and batting average. Ohtani led in on-base percentage, but Crow-Armstrong's exceptional defense, widely regarded as the best in baseball, further strengthens his MVP case. Ohtani spent the 2026 season primarily as a hitter due to injuries that limited his pitching to 85.2 innings. His last pitching appearance was on July 3 against the San Diego Padres.
The winner of the 2026 NL MVP Award is scheduled to be announced on November 12.
Ohtani was the sole Dodgers player to be a top-three finalist for any of the five Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) awards this year.