If you’ve even glanced at a television in the last five years, you know who Shohei Ohtani is. He’s the guy who hits 450-foot home runs and then turns around and throws a 100-mph fastball that makes professional hitters look like they’ve never held a bat before. But when it comes to his trophy case, things are getting a little crowded. If you’re wondering exactly how many MVPs does Ohtani have as we sit here in early 2026, the answer is officially four.
Four. Let that sink in for a second.
Honestly, it feels like he should have ten by now, but the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) can be picky. Ohtani just picked up his most recent hardware in November 2025, and it wasn’t even a close race. He basically walked away with it. By securing his fourth Most Valuable Player award, he didn't just add a trophy; he entered a stratosphere of baseball history that usually requires a time machine to visit.
The Breakdown: How He Got to Four
Ohtani’s journey to four MVPs is actually divided perfectly between the two leagues. He has two from his time with the Los Angeles Angels in the American League (AL) and two more with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League (NL).
- 2021 (AL): This was the year the world realized the "two-way" thing wasn't a gimmick. He hit 46 homers and won 9 games as a pitcher. It was unanimous.
- 2023 (AL): Despite an elbow injury late in the season, he led the league in home runs and posted a 3.14 ERA. Again, unanimous.
- 2024 (NL): His first year as a Dodger. He didn't even pitch! He just went out and created the 50/50 club (54 homers, 59 steals). You guessed it—unanimous.
- 2025 (NL): The comeback year on the mound. He hit 55 homers and returned to pitching in June, helping the Dodgers to another World Series title. Unanimous.
Wait. Did you catch that? How many MVPs does Ohtani have that weren't unanimous? Zero.
That is arguably the most insane stat in sports history. Every single one of his four MVP wins was a clean sweep. Not a single writer in those four years thought anyone else was better. Not even Barry Bonds or Michael Jordan can say they were perfect in the eyes of every voter every single time they won.
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The Bonds Comparison
Speaking of Barry Bonds, he’s the only guy with more MVPs than Shohei right now. Bonds has seven. But Ohtani is only 31 years old. If he keeps this pace up—and honestly, with the way he takes care of himself, why wouldn't he?—he’s got a legitimate shot at catching the Home Run King.
The difference is Ohtani is doing this while recovering from major elbow surgery and changing leagues. He’s the first player ever to win multiple MVPs in both the American and National Leagues. Frank Robinson won one in each, but Shohei decided he needed a pair for each hand.
Why 2025 Was Different
Kinda crazy to think about, but 2025 was supposed to be a "rehab" year for Ohtani’s arm. He didn't start the season on the mound. Most people thought he’d just be a designated hitter again.
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But then June rolled around.
He stepped back on the rubber and started carving through lineups like he never left. He finished the 2025 season with a 2.87 ERA in 14 starts. Oh, and he also broke his own Dodgers franchise record by hitting 55 home runs. It’s that combination of elite pitching and legendary hitting that makes the question of how many MVPs does Ohtani have feel like an ongoing countdown rather than a final tally.
The "Robbery" of 2022
If you’re a die-hard Ohtani fan, you probably think he should have five MVPs. In 2022, he had a statistically better season as a pitcher than he did in his first MVP year. But that was the year Aaron Judge hit 62 home runs and broke the AL record.
It was a classic "historic season vs. historic player" debate. Judge won. Ohtani came in second. Honestly, looking back, that’s the only thing standing between Shohei and a five-year MVP streak.
What’s Next for Showtime?
So, we know the count. Four MVPs. Two World Series rings with the Dodgers. A World Baseball Classic MVP. He’s basically completed the "Baseball Side Quest" list.
What's left?
- Matching Bonds: He needs three more to tie the record.
- The Cy Young: Believe it or not, he hasn't won the top pitching award yet. He’s been close (finishing 4th in 2022), but a Cy Young-MVP double is the final frontier.
- The Triple Crown: He’s always near the top in home runs and RBIs; if he can find a way to nudge that batting average up a few more points, he could sweep the hitting categories too.
If you’re looking to follow Ohtani’s progress toward his fifth MVP in 2026, keep an eye on his pitching workload. The Dodgers have been careful with him, but a full season of 25+ starts combined with his usual 40-50 home runs makes him almost impossible to beat in a vote.
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Basically, as long as Shohei Ohtani is healthy, the rest of the league is playing for second place. You can check the current MLB standings or the latest box scores on the official MLB website to see if he's already on track for number five.
Keep a close eye on the "Statcast" data this season. If his exit velocity stays above 110 mph and his "sweeper" pitch continues to have that elite horizontal break, we’ll be updating the answer to how many MVPs does Ohtani have again this time next year.
Actionable Insight: If you're a collector or a fan, keep a close watch on Ohtani's 2024 and 2025 "unanimous" memorabilia. Because he is the only player to ever win four MVPs unanimously, these specific items are likely to hold historic value far beyond a standard MVP season.