Why Texas Rangers Star Corey Seager Deserves American League MVP Over Shohei Ohtani

There's probably no clear-cut answer to a question many Texas Rangers fans are pondering entering the final weeks of the regular season, but it's worth bringing up.

Does shortstop Corey Seager deserve first-place votes for the American League Most Valuable Player Award? Injury aside, has he done enough at the plate to garner consideration?

Manager Bruce Bochy thinks it's worth a conversation.

“I saw this guy a lot from the other side and you get a deeper appreciation watching him play every day," Bochy said last week. "How he prepares. How he gets in that mode. He’s just put up incredible numbers. He is one of the best hitters I’ve ever been around.”

On a roster littered with All-Star talent, Seager remains the brightest star. The Rangers wouldn't be in a postseason push without his contributions both at the plate and in the field, let alone still in the mix to win the AL West title for the first time in seven seasons.

Numbers back it, too. Entering Thursday, Seagar ranks first among qualified AL players in batting average (.331), doubles (42) and in second in OPS (1.029). He leads all shortstops in home runs (31), RBI (93), OBP (.392) and slugging percentage (.637).

Those numbers feel like full-season production, but Seager's managed to put up those numbers in just 109 contests. He could also be in a national stage playing October baseball should the Rangers clinch a playoff spot.

But MVP? Sure, it's worth discussing, but the outcome might have already been decided before his September surge.

Everyone in baseball has been chasing Shohei Ohtani's unprecedented year since early April. The Shohei Sweepstakes for his services will commence this offseason, but the race to win the AL's most coveted award began well before.

Spoiler alert: Seager's the only one that's come close to at least rivaling him at a consistent pace. If not for a second injury setback, maybe Seager would make this decision more intriguing entering award season.

Players aren't competing against a once-in-a-blue-moon player that broke out at the right time. They're going toe-to-toe with a generational talent that offers more than long balls that leave the ballpark or fastballs that look unhittable.

Ohtani does it all — or did it all before being shut down earlier this month due to an oblique injury. He was a pitcher's nightmare when stepping into the batter's box. Every fifth day, he was the one batters hated facing when on the mound.

Baseball hasn't seen a player like this in over a century, back when Babe Ruth put down the cigar in the dugout and took the field as the face of the league. Even then, Ruth only pitched for 10 seasons. In the last four years, he combined for 31 total innings pitched.

How long will Ohtani be on the mound following another Tommy John Surgery? One more year? Two? Six? He's halfway in length to the Babe's total and still could have his best stuff ahead.

No one will catch Ohtani's AL-leading 44 home runs in the final two weeks. Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert ranks second among AL hitters in dingers, and he's seven away.

Outside of that, though, Seager's the only player whose numbers could challenge Ohtani for the title. And if he plays the remainder of the season, Seager would have only missed 16 more games.

Voters will look at everything, including situations. Seager plays on a club in the playoff race. Ohtani was a one-man show for a losing club.

Seager can match Ohtani's mashing at the plate, but the pitching side can't be matched.

Any other season and Seager's argument would be legitimate. It'd be downright foolish to keep him out of the mix, even with the injury factor. No one has done more in less time and he continues to produce down the stretch, giving Rangers fans reason for hope.

But much like last season, unprecedented years lead to unanimous outcomes. Aaron Judge's AL record-breaking 62 home runs did the trick in 2022.

Seager's going to take home hardware. He'll easily win the AL Silver Slugger Award at his position. He's in line for the batting title. Barring an error or two, he could be the front-runner to take home the Gold Glove.

But MVP? That would seem to go to Ohtani. But if anyone else can sway the voters, it has to be Seager.

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