Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani

Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are two of the most high profile MLB athletes and arguably the faces of their respective leagues. While Judge is the captain of the New York Yankees, Ohtani moved to National League with a record 10-year $700 million deal with LA Dodgers.

That being said, both Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are playing as pure hitters this season and have unleashed their full potential in the batter’s box. While both the players lead the MVP race in their respective leagues, the debate around who is better than the other irked veteran outfielder Mookie Betts.

Mookie Betts Urge Fans To Enjoy Aaron Judge-Shohei Ohtani’s Historic Seasons

Shohei Ohtani Aaron Judge Source: ESPN
This year’s MVP race has been a special one, with both Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani achieving remarkable feats. Judge is leading the AL in home runs, RBIs and batting average, thus making him the front-runner for the Triple Crown award. Not only that, the Yankees captain is on pace to surpass his 62-home run record and could become the only third player in MLB to hit 60+ home runs in multiple seasons. On the other hand, Shohei Ohtani joined the exclusive club with a remarkable 40/40 record and is on pace to become the first player in MLB to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. Hence, owing to such historic numbers, both players are leading MVP races in their respective leagues.

However, fans are still debating on who among Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani is having a better season than the other. Amidst the ongoing discussions and comparisons, Los Angeles Dodgers star and Ohtani’s teammate Mookie Betts has called for respect and appreciation for both players, emphasizing their unique contributions to the game. Betts urged fans, analysts, and voters to appreciate the greatness of both players. He believes that the MVP debate should not diminish either player’s accomplishments. And also, the focus on choosing between Judge and Ohtani often leads to unfair comparisons that overlook the unique impact each has on the game. Both Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani have elevated the game to new heights this season and hence merit recognition for their extraordinary achievements. “We should appreciate greatness. This is stuff I don’t know if we’ll ever see again,” Betts said.

MLB GM Explains What Sets Judge Apart From Ohtani?

Former MLB general manager turned analyst Dan O’Dowd recently stated in a podcast that Aaron Judge’s responsibilities are far greater than Shohei Ohtani’s, which makes the former season more remarkable. Dan explained that Judge, as a 6-foot-7 athlete, plays centre field day in and out, which often leads to fatigue due to the demanding nature of the outfield position.

On top of that, Aaron Judge also has to lead the New York Yankees as an official captain. “I am not saying Ohtani doesn’t, but he doesn’t have the sense of responsibility that Aaron Judge does on the totality of that roster,” O’Dowd said. Notably, due to Tommy John surgery, two-way superstar Ohtani is not pitching this season.