Aaron Judge Winning AL MVP Over Shohei Ohtani Causes Social Media Stir

Did the voters get it right?

The voting for the 2022 American League MVP award came down to a two-way sensation against a man who hit more home runs than anybody in AL history. In the end, the long ball prevailed.

Judge won the hotly-contested race for the AL’s top individual award, receiving a whopping 28 out of 30 first-place votes. While the writers who decided the award saw the race as one-sided, baseball fans were a bit more split.

Firstly, both players had historic seasons. Judge—who is now, at 6’7”, the tallest player to ever win the MVP award—played out of position for most of the year, moving from right field to center. He led the majors in nearly ever major category, and his 62 home runs are the most in AL history, breaking Roger Maris’s 61-year mark.

Ohtani, on the other hand, went where no player has ever gone before, putting his two-way talents on display for the second straight year. He’s the only player in league history to qualify as both a hitter and a pitcher, reaching the necessary plate appearance and innings pitched marks. Ohtani finished fourth in the AL in home runs (34) and sixth in OPS+ (145), while going 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA in 28 starts on the mound. He led the AL in strikeouts per nine innings (11.9), finishing fourth in Cy Young Award voting.

Given how great each player was this past season, there were plenty of strong reactions to Judge’s sizable victory. Here are some of the best of the bunch below.

#Yankees slugger Aaron Judge got 28 first-place votes to #Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani's two first-place votes. Thought it would be a lot closer.

— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) November 18, 2022

There should be ZERO uproar over Aaron Judge not being the unanimous AL MVP.

Shohei Ohtani is doing unicorn-type things. Judge deserves the award, but Ohtani’s magic was worth the two top spots on ballots. #Yankees #Angels

— Cory McCartney (@coryjmccartney) November 18, 2022

I would have no problem with Shohei Ohtani winning MVP every year if he keeps doing what he's doing.

I would also have no problem with Aaron Judge stealing a mere one of those MVPs away after hitting an insane amount of HRs.

It's a win/win this year in the AL. https://t.co/hOvV3aOKCr

— cole kuiper (@cmkuiper) November 17, 2022

Both writers from the Los Angeles chapter put Shohei Ohtani first but no one else did. I’m kind of relieved Aaron Judge didn’t win unanimously. Both players were deserving winners and I’m glad Judge won. But Ohtani deserved strong support as well. https://t.co/tx7TMwdNao

— Michael Bradburn (@MWBII) November 18, 2022

Imagine hitting 62 homers, breaking the AL record and not winning MVP? Well-deserved for Aaron Judge. Ohtani will win many more if he stays healthy but there’s no doubt the writers made the right call.

— Jake Reiner (@Reiner_Jake) November 18, 2022

Shohei Ohtani is the best player in baseball. But Aaron Judge was the most valuable player in the AL this year.

— Bryan Levine (@Bryan_Levine) November 18, 2022

it's a shame that Shohei Ohtani had maybe the greatest season in baseball's history and walks away without a single award, can't take away what others (Aaron Judge in particular) have done, but man, it really is a shame

— Taylor Blake Ward (@TaylorBlakeWard) November 18, 2022

as much as I love Ohtani, Judge deserves the AL MVP win for this season.

— Jordan Cicchelli 🤍 (@jordancicchelli) November 18, 2022

If given the option to add either Shohei Ohtani or Aaron Judge to their roster, every MLB GM would pick Shohei. Every. Single. One.

— Nate (@NateBradySteele) November 18, 2022

Call me crazy… but Ohtani deserved MVP over Judge. Don’t get me wrong dude had a historic season at the plate, but to do it in the box and on the mound is unreal. Travesty in my opinion.

— LANG ♊️ (@LangyLang23) November 18, 2022