MLB Turns Heads With Major Shohei Ohtani Announcement on Tuesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The MVP race is heating up in the MLB with several familiar faces at the top of the polls.

The Shohei Ohtani effect is real. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar has not been able to show off his two-way abilities since 2023, but that has not slowed his popularity. Along with other superstars, Ohtani is leading baseball’s resurgent charge. The MLB Communications Department posted this graphic on their X account:

Facing a rash of injuries to its pitching staff, baseball’s richest team is banking on the 30-year-old Japanese dual threat to resume his role as starting pitcher—and fast.