Castellanos Challenges Ohtani's MVP Win, Advocates for Mets' Iglesias Despite Limited Play
January 13, 2025Despite their success, Castellanos and the Phillies faced an early exit in the postseason against the New York Mets.
Castellanos noted Iglesias's influence within the Mets organization, highlighting the 'OMG' signs that became popular during the season.
He described Iglesias as the player with the most weight in creating wins for his team, asserting that he should be viewed as the unanimous MVP based on his contributions.
Ohtani's remarkable performance helped lead the Dodgers to a World Series title, finishing the regular season with the best record in MLB at 98-64.
Reflecting on the emotional aftermath of the playoff loss, Castellanos described his grieving process and how he uses the offseason to analyze the previous season's events.
Castellanos has been vocal in his belief that New York Mets second baseman Jose Iglesias deserved the MVP award over Shohei Ohtani, arguing that Iglesias had a more significant impact on his team's success.
However, Iglesias's limited participation in only half of the season raises questions about the validity of his MVP candidacy.
In contrast, Shohei Ohtani, who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, had a historic season in 2024, hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases, becoming the first player to achieve at least 50 in both categories.
The Philadelphia Phillies, led by Nick Castellanos, secured the NL East title with a strong 95-67 record, with Castellanos himself playing all 162 games and hitting .254 with 23 home runs.
Iglesias had a standout 2024 season, boasting a .337 batting average, four home runs, and 26 RBIs in 85 games, which contributed to the Mets' playoff berth.
Despite his achievements, Ohtani has faced scrutiny, as Castellanos questioned whether he was solely responsible for the Dodgers' success.
Ohtani won the MVP award with a total of 423 voting points, while Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was the runner-up with 263 points.
Summary based on 6 sources
Get a daily email with more MLB stories
Sources
CBSSports.com • Jan 13, 2025
Phillies' Nick Castellanos shares bizarre NL MVP pick, says Mets utilityman deserved honor over Shohei OhtaniFOX Sports • Jan 13, 2025
Nick Castellanos says Jose Iglesias should’ve won NL MVP over Shohei OhtaniHeavy • Jan 13, 2025
Phillies Slugger Makes Absurd NL MVP Pick Over Shohei Ohtani