It was barely April, but Shohei Ohtani already had fans buzzing in Los Angeles. He launched a 430-foot moonshot into the Dodger Stadium pavilion, then stole second base with the kind of elegance that reminded everyone why he’s baseball’s unicorn. For a moment, the two-way marvel looked poised to dominate another MVP race—even without taking the mound. Then came Aaron Judge.
Fast forward to late April, and Ohtani’s narrative has shifted—not due to failure, but because Judge has been putting up video game numbers that are downright absurd. MLB insider Jayhay didn’t mince words on Baseball Is Dead with Jared Carrabis: “There’s a meaningful gap in the AL MVP race. On my very short list of two, there’s only one guy who’s within shouting distance of the leader—and that leader is Aaron Judge.” He was being clear. The Yankees’ captain has turned the MVP race into a one-man show.
Judge’s April slash line reads like a cheat code: .427 average, .521 OBP, .761 slugging, and a 1.282 OPS. He leads MLB in nearly every major offensive category. And here’s the kicker—he’s doing it while anchoring a first-place team in a pressure-cooker market. When Judge is locked in like this, voters don’t need much convincing.
So, where does that leave Ohtani?
Despite slashing .264/.366/.506 with six homers and five steals, Ohtani hasn’t pitched yet as he continues to recover from elbow surgery. And in the MVP calculus, that matters. His WAR is fourth on his own team. That’s uncharted territory for a guy who once dominated both sides of the ball like a cheat code come to life.
In a league that loves narratives, Ohtani’s might still be unfolding. Maybe his return to the mound flips the script. Maybe his bat heats up. But for now, the MVP spotlight belongs to a 6’7” giant in pinstripes who’s making history with every swing.
And if you’re keeping score, it’s Judge 1, Ohtani 0—but the season’s only just begun.
Polanco’s surprise push from the Pacific Northwest
You know the MVP conversation’s heating up when names like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani dominate the headlines, but don’t sleep on the guy quietly going nuclear up in Seattle. Jorge Polanco, the Mariners’ offseason pickup, is lighting it up with the kind of slash line that makes even diehard statheads do a double-take. He’s hitting .384 with a .418 OBP and an 808 slugging percentage—that’s a jaw-dropping 1.226 OPS. Oh, and he’s launched 9 homers and driven in 25 runs. All in just 80 plate appearances. That’s not just hot—that’s alarming if you’re a pitcher.
“My grab-bag player, if you will, in the Pacific Northwest—Jorge Polanco,” Jayhay noted. And while further discussing his stats, he said, “that is still, quite the gap between him (Polanco and Aaron Judge at the top of this list.” That last line says it all. Even with a scorching start, Polanco’s still chasing Judge’s shadow. But if you’re looking for the first real wildcard in this MVP race, it’s the guy turning heads quietly up in the Pacific Northwest.
What makes Polanco’s breakout even more compelling is the belief coming from inside the Mariners’ clubhouse. President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto put it best: “We are all glad to have Polo back in the fold. He’s a quiet pro who knows us, and we know him. The physical and mental toughness he showed last season gained respect from our entire team.” It’s that combination of resilience and elite production that’s putting Polanco squarely on the radar, not just for Comeback Player of the Year chatter but in early MVP discussions too.
The numbers scream louder than the coverage right now, but that won’t last for long.
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