As the World Series approaches, much of the spotlight is on the two frontrunners for the Most Valuable Player awards: Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers in the National League and Aaron Judge of the Yankees in the American League.
Referring to Ohtani, Judge praised him as “the best player in the game.” Ohtani reciprocated the compliment, expressing his admiration for Judge. In a statement to Japanese media, Ohtani acknowledged Judge’s status, saying, “Everyone knows he is a great player. It’s special for baseball players and fans that one of the best players of all time is playing for the Yankees in this era. As a fan, I’m grateful he’s playing baseball and grateful for the opportunity to compete against someone who represents this era.”
However, Ohtani made it clear that his priority is to win against Judge, and he has confidence in his team’s ability to succeed. “From an outsider’s perspective, I’ve always thought the Dodgers easily made it to the postseason,” Ohtani said. “But this season, I’ve come to appreciate the effort required to reach the postseason despite the injuries. It has truly been a team effort.”
He praised the depth of the Dodgers’ roster, noting that while the team has faced injuries, the players stepping in have performed admirably. “We have a deep team; look at our roster. The young players coming up from the minors are also talented and well-prepared. Furthermore, players like Kike Hernández support the team throughout the season and yet can deliver power hits in the postseason. It’s a great balance.”