Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge once battled for MVP honors while both competed in the American League, but with Ohtani’s move to the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, voters have found it easier to choose the NL MVP because both players stand apart from the rest. Despite this, repeated MVP wins by the same player have led some voters to seek fresh candidates, opening the door for emerging contenders like Pete Crow-Armstrong, who has drawn attention in the National League.

Following this trend, MLB insider Jayson Stark of The Athletic identified Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong as the closest challenger to Ohtani for the 2025 NL MVP award. Yet, Stark’s detailed analysis found it difficult to justify a vote for Crow-Armstrong given Ohtani’s overwhelming superiority in key areas.

“It’s called Shohei Ohtani MVP Fatigue,” Stark wrote in his column for The Athletic. “So I, too, went into this process practically looking for reasons to argue that, say, Pete Crow-Armstrong was the real NL MVP in 2025. But sorry. There just aren’t enough of them.”

Stark explained the significant gap between the two, pointing out offensive statistics where Ohtani holds a clear lead over Crow-Armstrong. Despite Crow-Armstrong’s strengths, Ohtani’s overall contributions have proven difficult to surpass.

“If we put defense aside, Ohtani leads Crow-Armstrong in slugging by more than 70 points, in OPS by over 150 points and in OBP by 80 points,” Stark wrote.

“Ohtani has also reached base nearly 50 more times, in part because PCA practically refuses to walk (four in his last 130 trips). So do defense and base running make up all of that ground? It might for the WAR calculators, but not quite for me.”

Ohtani Remains the Dominant Force Among NL MVP Candidates

Last season, Shohei Ohtani earned the NL MVP title unanimously, even without pitching, demonstrating his exceptional impact as a hitter. This season, he continues to perform at an elite level both at the plate and on the mound, making the task of displacing him from the MVP spotlight even more daunting. Through 92 games, Ohtani is batting .279 with 31 home runs and 12 stolen bases, while also contributing as a pitcher with a 1.50 ERA after four starts.

Jayson Stark’s latest report places Ohtani firmly at the top of his list of MVP contenders, acknowledging the challenge other players face in matching his two-way excellence.

“Ohtani, Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Tucker, Zack Wheeler, James Wood.”

Pete Crow-Armstrong’s Bid Faces Long Odds Against Ohtani’s Reign

Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has shown promise with a .269 batting average, 25 home runs, and 27 stolen bases this season, positioning him as a potential NL MVP contender. Despite his impressive numbers, Crow-Armstrong still has considerable ground to cover if he hopes to persuade voters to choose him over Ohtani, who is on the cusp of winning his fourth NL MVP award.

While Crow-Armstrong’s defensive skills and baserunning add valuable dimensions to his game, Ohtani’s superior offensive production and ability to pitch continue to set an almost insurmountable benchmark, leaving the National League MVP race heavily tilted in favor of Ohtani once again.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. What is Pete Crow-Armstrong’s real name?

A. Pete Henry Crow-Armstrong, often called “PCA,” was born on March 25, 2002. He plays as an outfielder for the Chicago Cubs in Major League Baseball. His first game in the MLB was in 2023.