Juan Soto is fed up with Shohei Ohtani. After watching the Los Angeles Dodgers’ double threat take home the National League MVP award two years in a row, the New York Mets’ star outfielder issued a serious warning: he’s going to find a way to beat him.
Ohtani’s season was extraordinary: at the plate, he averaged .282 with a .392 on-base percentage, while as a pitcher he went 1-1 in 14 starts with a 2.87 ERA.
This earned Ohtani his second consecutive National League MVP award. Although it’s actually his third consecutive MVP and fourth of his career, counting his 2023 and 2021 AL MVPs.
Far from being intimidated, Soto seems motivated:
He [Ohtani] is really good. I’ve just got to beat him. Definitely, it’s not going to be easy, but I’ve got to find a way to beat him.
Soto isn’t giving up the race with Ohtani
In an interview with MLB.com, the seven-year veteran asserted that he won’t abandon the MVP race. “I’m going to be there every year, too,” he warned.
“So, he’d better keep doing what he’s doing, because I’m coming,” Soto said, adding that he will improve every aspect of his game. “I would definitely love to be better around the bases and better around the outfield.”
The Mets star is also working on his hitting. “Even though I’m hitting, I try to keep increasing my hitting. Thank God I’ve been doing well the past couple of seasons,” Soto emphasized.
Beyond the competition with Ohtani, Soto is trying to surpass himself. “I’ve been putting up numbers, career highs, and stuff like that. So I just want to keep doing the same thing. I try to be better year after year.”
Soto also had a stellar year with the Mets
As he himself said, Soto’s numbers are on par with Ohtani’s.
In 2025, he achieved:
- .263 batting average
- .396 on-base percentage
- 152 hits
- 43 home runs
- 120 runs scored
- 105 RBIs
If he continues to improve his stats, as he has in recent years, 2026 could very well be the year Juan Soto takes the NL MVP award from Shohei Ohtani.
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