In the final stretch of the 2024 season, as Shohei Ohtani became the sixth player in history to achieve the 40–40 milestone and pushed toward the unprecedented 50–50 mark, chants of “MVP, MVP” frequently echoed through Dodger Stadium as he stepped up to the plate.

Those chants were not only a celebration of his achievements, but likely also a collective hope—that he would carry the team all the way to a championship.

Back in late June 2023, the Angels reached the midpoint of the season with a 44–37 record.

Ohtani was leading the team as a two-way player, and on that particular day, it was “Japanese Heritage Day,” a night dedicated to celebrating Japanese culture and tradition.

In front of a crowd of 33,000 at Angel Stadium, fans broke into a loud and unified chant:

“MVP, MVP, MVP, MVP.”

With the team winning and Ohtani performing at an elite level, the fans were clearly satisfied.

Reflecting on that moment, Ohtani said:

“Hearing that kind of chant always feels good. It makes me want to get even better—it pushes my motivation further.”

In the end, Ohtani went on to win his second MVP award.

However, the Angels finished the season at 73–89, missing the postseason for the ninth consecutive year.

Source

This quote comes from a Japanese book published in Japan and is not currently available in English.

Sho-Time 2.0: Shohei Ohtani’s Quest for World No.1, p.151