There's no denying the lift Marcell Ozuna has provided the Atlanta Braves in 2024. The big bear has easily been the most consistent bat in the Braves lineup this season. Given his impressive numbers (even flirting with the first Triple Crown since Miguel Cabrera in 2012), Ozuna isn't the MVP candidate most think he is.
Quite a few reasons go into why Ozuna probably won't make it back to back winners for the Braves. Whether it's his positional value, or simply the competition he faces we'll dive into all the details on why Ozuna will not be winning MVP this season.
No Designated Hitter has ever won MVP
As we know, baseball is not a game where value is strictly found at the plate. Hitting production may very well be the most emphasized portion of the formula, but winning MVP requires more ingredients. Last season, Ronald Acuna Jr. wreaked havoc on the basepaths to help his MVP cause.
Then you have instances where guys like Mookie Betts took home the award thanks to his well-rounded game. His offense, defense, and baserunning ability all factored into why he was the 2018 AL MVP.
That's why no player has ever won MVP while strictly being a DH. The closest we've seen came all the way back in 1979, when Don Baylor was DH in just 40% of the Angels games.
Shohei Ohtani is Ozuna...but better
While we spent all that time portraying how difficult it is to win MVP as a full-time DH, we now bring in a guy Ozuna himself called a "robot." If there ever was a guy to win this award as a DH, it's got to be a generational star like Shohei Ohtani.
“I don’t worry about it because on the other side, everybody knows there is a robot. Ohtani is a robot.”
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) August 21, 2024
Marcell Ozuna on if he keeps track of the Triple Crown🔊 pic.twitter.com/KvsLSKj9Hf
Make no mistake, Ozuna has put together some gaudy numbers in 2024. He currently sports a .307/.378/.583 slash line, with a wOBA over .400, and 163 wRC+, and 4.3 fWAR which would be his highest in a season since his final season with the Marlins back in 2017.
However, Ohtani takes those numbers up ever so slightly. Entering today Ohtani is sporting a .292/.379/.615 slash line, an absurd .440 xwOBA, and 6.3 fWAR. Although they have similar power numbers, Ohtani has been MUCH more disruptive on the basepaths. Ohtani's 40 stolen bases has him flirting with MLB's first ever 50/50 season.
Plenty of other NL MVP options
As of writing there are four National League players with a higher Fangraphs WAR than Marcell Ozuna. Those players are as follows: Francisco Lindor (6.5 fWAR), Shohei Ohtani (6.3 fWAR), Elly De La Cruz (5.9 fWAR), and Ketel Marte (5.4 fWAR).
We understand WAR may not be the be all end all as far as MVP voting goes, but it does showcase how each of these candidates have helped lead their teams in 2024. Lindor has been one of the games best defenders and his consistency at the plate has kept the injury riddled Mets in the thick of the playoff race.
Elly De La Cruz has been an absolute menace on the bases, stealing a league-high 61 bags. All while being a strong defender and electric bat for the Reds. Then you get to steady Ketel Marte, who's all around excellence has the defending NL champs playing their best baseball of the year right now.
Regardless, Ozuna has proven he deserves to at least have his name mentioned in the MVP conversations. More importantly, he has established himself as one of the most feared RHH's in baseball once again. It's precisely why the decision to bring Ozuna back in 2025 becomes more and more obvious each passing day.