Now that we’ve played more than half of the MLB season, the list of 2024 NL MVP candidates has become clear. Not surprisingly, several previous MLB award winners are among the top contenders. But the race is still far from over.
Ranking the Top 5 Current NL MVP Contenders
Of course, we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves too much. However, it seems unlikely that anybody will be able to come from outside of the top handful of current contenders to win the award. That’s why we wanted to focus on evaluating the five leading NL MVP contenders and where they stand at the all-star break.
Shohei Ohtani
For the second straight season, Shohei Ohtani looks like a safe bet to win MVP. The caveat is that Ohtani would only be doing it with his bat this season rather than as a two-way player. He currently ranks second behind AL MVP frontrunner Aaron Judge in both home runs and OPS while batting .316, which ranks fourth in the majors. That certainly looks like the resume of an MVP, especially since Ohtani has had to do more heavy lifting for the Dodgers with Mookie Betts on the IL. At this point, it would take something spectacular to keep Ohtani from winning MVP and becoming the second player in league history to win MVP in both leagues. Unlike Frank Robinson, Ohtani would be winning in back-to-back years.
Bryce Harper
At the all-star break, Bryce Harper might be the only player with a fair shot at overtaking Ohtani in the MVP race. At the midway point of the season, Harper is batting over .300 with over 20 home runs and has the fourth-best OPS in the big leagues. The Phillies are arguably the best team in the National League with Harper clearly being their best hitter. However, Harper remains a little behind Ohtani in most offensive categories, so he has a lot of ground to make up if he hopes to win MVP.
Freddie Freeman
Much like Ohtani, Freddie Freeman has had to step up with Betts on the IL, which is why he’s getting some love in the MVP conversation. While his home run power has fallen off a little, Freeman is still near the top of the league when it comes to doubles and walks, so he’s moving the needle in other ways. Freeman also plays a solid first base and is on pace for well over 100 RBI. It doesn’t hurt that the Dodgers look likely to cruise to another division title, which should help Freeman’s MVP argument despite Ohtani’s presence.
Ketel Marte
Across the board, Ketel Marte has been one of the most productive hitters in baseball this year. At the all-star break, he’s flirting with a .300 average and a .900 OPS. His 19 home runs and 19 doubles at the break show impressive power and balance. More importantly, Marte has helped to lift up the Diamondbacks and keep them in the playoff race. He’s certainly not the best player in the National League, which is why he’s a long shot to win MVP. But Marte is an essential part of the Diamondbacks, which is why he should be in the MVP discussion.
Francisco Lindor
How did Francisco Lindor get left off the all-star team? Granted, he got off to a terrible start in April. But if we forgive his slump at the start of the season, Lindor has played at an elite level. Since moving to the leadoff spot, Lindor is batting .299 with an OPS of .906. That change has been the catalyst for the Mets being one of the best teams in baseball in June and July after being the worst team in the league in May. Lindor has once again played Gold Glove-caliber defense and is also on pace for his second straight 30-30 season. That should be more than enough to be an all-star, not to mention a sleeper in the MVP race.
