Juan

Soto

Ohtani captures MVP honors in unanimous fashion for the fourth time in five years after another otherworldly two-way campaign with the World Series champion Dodgers. The 31-year-old generational talent launched 55 homers and recorded a 2.87 ERA across 47 innings over 14 starts in his return to the mound. He’s taken home back-to-back MVP Awards on the senior circuit since arriving in Los Angeles. Ohtani received all 30 first-place votes, finishing ahead of Kyle Schwarber — who netted 23 of 30 second-place votes — and Juan Soto in this year’s NL MVP Award balloting.

The American League winners will be announced on Friday night. Here is the complete list of winners for the senior circuit: Hunter Goodman (C), Pete Alonso (1B), Ketel Marte (2B), Manny Machado (3B), Geraldo Perdomo (SS), Juan Soto (OF), Corbin Carroll (OF), Kyle Tucker (OF), Ohtani (DH) and Alec Burleson (UTIL). Ohtani has claimed the award in back-to-back seasons since joining the Dodgers and four times overall in his career. Soto takes home the honor in his Mets debut, giving him six in eight seasons. At this rate, he might need an entire room just to display them all by the time his 15-year megadeal is through. Alonso, Perdomo, Goodman, Carroll and Burleson are all first-time winners.

Ohtani represents the overwhelming favorite to capture MVP honors for the fourth time in five years after another otherworldly two-way campaign for the World Series champion Dodgers, launching 55 home runs and posting a 2.87 ERA across 47 innings over 14 starts in his return to the mound. Schwarber did everything possible to make this a close race, blasting a career-high 56 homers and driving in 132 runs during his age-32 season with the Phillies before hitting free agency. Soto capped his first year with the Mets by leading the majors in walks (127) and on-base percentage (.396) while also setting career highs with 43 homers and 38 stolen bases. The winner will be announced on Thursday, November 13.

Assuming this is just about money, paying their first base coach is an odd place for the Mets to draw the line. Richardson got much of the credit for Juan Soto’s breakout as a basestealer. Who knows whether Soto would want to keep running as much in 2026 anyway, but Richardson’s departure might cut a bit into his steal projection.

Soto’s homer was part of a six-run fourth inning that gave the Mets an 8-4 lead. He has 10 of those in his last 20 games. It also sure looks like he wants to go 40/40; he’s up to 34 steals to go along with 42 homers. 23 of his steals have come in his 56 games during the second half.

A slow April by Soto had some thinking his best days, power-wise, could have been behind him. Well, this long ball tied the career-best he set last season with 10 games to go. He missed another one later in this game by about two inches – literally – as it sliced just before the left field foul pole off Padres flamethrower Mason Miller. That could have tied the game, but Soto had to settle for just the one home run.

Soto went deep off Hoby Milner in the seventh inning and knocked a base hit in the ninth in New York’s loss to the Rangers on Saturday. The home run brings Soto to 40 on the year for his second straight 40-homer campaign. The 26-year-old outfielder is hitting .264/.398/.529 with 113 runs scored, 97 RBI, and 32 steals across 655 plate appearances.

The Mets continue to lose games, but Soto’s doing everything he can to pull them from the doldrums. They’d scored just two runs before a futile ninth inning rally when they were already behind by more than a touchdown and Soto scored each of them. His home run was 39th and stolen base his 31st as he’s somehow become the best power-speed threat in the entire league in his first season as a Met.

Soto’s home run was his 38th this year. The 26-year-old outfielder has six home runs and 14 RBI over his last eight games. Soto is enjoying one of the best fantasy campaigns of his career thanks to his career-high 28 stolen bases. He’s hitting .262 with a .928 OPS and 93 RBI this year.

Soto, who tied a career-high with six RBI, also walked twice and scored two runs. It was his first grand slam of the season and also his first triple, the latter of which pushed the Mets ahead in the sixth. Soto is on an a rampage at the plate in recent days, hitting .467 (7-for-15) with four homers, 11 RBI, three steals, and seven runs scored. His OPS sits at .915 for the year, his highest point since early July.