Bobby Witt Jr.'s Bat Is Still Sleeping, So Why Is He The AL MVP Front-Runner, And What Does That Mean For The Rest Of The League?

Alright, Emerald City, can we get a massive cheer for our boys? Our Mariners just absolutely crushed the Athletics, taking them down 9-2! What a game for the squad as they showed what they're made of. But even while we celebrate wins at T-Mobile Park, the rest of the league is buzzing with some wild early season award races. We're talking MVP, Cy Young, the whole shebang. And let me tell you, there are some *seriously* surprising names popping up at the top, none more so than one guy leading the American League MVP charge even with a bat that's not quite firing on all cylinders yet.

Ohtani's Cy Young Dream Is Already Causing Chaos

Remember when Shohei Ohtani set his sights on the National League Cy Young Award early this season? Yeah, we all probably thought, "Sure, he's amazing, but can he *really* do that while being one of the greatest hitters on the planet?" His historical pitching numbers, like that 13-7 record and 3.00 ERA over 162 games with 228 strikeouts, were a great foundation. But the question was always about volume. He's only qualified for an ERA title once! Plus, the Dodgers have the luxury to slow-play their starters, and he's still an MVP-caliber designated hitter. Flash forward to right now, and Ohtani is pitching like a full-time rotation ace, putting up his best results ever. His hitting volume has been dialed back a tad, but his Cy Young objective is absolutely on the table. If he pulls off that first Cy Young, get this: there's a really good chance he'll snatch his fourth straight Most Valuable Player Award too. The NL Cy Young race is looking fierce, folks!

Bobby Witt Jr. Is Leading The AL MVP Race, And It's Not For His Batting

Now, let's talk American League MVP, because this is where things get wild. Your current front-runner is Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals, rocking a 140.5 AXE score. We've got guys like Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, Cody Bellinger, and even Aaron Judge trailing him. Here's the kicker, though: Witt has had a pedestrian start at the plate. His batting average and on-base percentage are pretty much in line with his past, but his isolated power number is down. So, what gives? Why is he the early leader? Simple: he's just incredibly good at *everything else*. FanGraphs' DEF metric actually has him as the most valuable defender in the major leagues! He's also seventh in baserunning according to FanGraphs' BSR metric, and let's not forget the positional value of playing shortstop. When you add it all up, Witt has piled up 31.9 runs above replacement, leading to a 3.3 fWAR figure. That's more than a half-win better than any other AL player. What's even crazier? Only 8.2 of those runs come from his bat! His offensive numbers are almost guaranteed to go up from here. This could be the year Witt finally snags his first AL MVP. The biggest mover in the AL MVP race is Nick Kurtz from the Athletics. His AXE score jumped from 117.3 at the end of April to 135.0, pushing his MLB rank from 51st all the way to sixth. This dude is an on-base machine, a true master of getting on base. He had a .510 OBP over three years in college, and a .440 in the minors. In the majors, he's at .404 overall, and he leads the AL this season with a .448 OBP. He's hitting .290 as a big leaguer, which in today's game is absolutely elite. While his power is down a bit, and his swing is producing more line drives than fly balls right now despite increased exit velocities, his overall profile is seriously impressing. As our Mariners continue to battle it out on the diamond, these early season award races are already shaping up to be must-watch. Can Ohtani truly make history on the mound and at the plate? Will Witt Jr. keep proving that MVP isn't just about dingers? We'll be watching every pitch and every swing, and you better believe we'll be here next month to break down all the madness. Go M's!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.