Pete Crow-Armstrong jokes about what it will take to beat Shohei Ohtani for NL MVP

Pete Crow-Armstrong has put together a breakout season for the Chicago Cubs, establishing himself as one of the National League's top players and a legitimate MVP contender. Even so, the All-Star center fielder knows exactly who stands in his way.

Shohei Ohtani has once again put together an incredible two-way campaign for the Los Angeles Dodgers, making him the overwhelming favorite to capture another National League MVP award. When asked what it would take to overtake Ohtani in the race, Crow-Armstrong had a humorous answer. The Cubs star joked that he may need to reinvent himself as a pitcher.

Pete Crow-Armstrong offers funny answer about MVP race

Crow-Armstrong has enjoyed the best offensive season of his career through the first half of 2026. The 24-year-old entered the All-Star break batting .291 with a .386 on-base percentage, a .531 slugging percentage and a .917 OPS. He also had 21 home runs, 53 RBIs, 104 hits, 63 runs scored and 24 stolen bases while helping keep the Cubs in postseason contention.

His production has made him one of the leading candidates in the National League MVP race. Still, Crow-Armstrong knows the challenge of surpassing Ohtani.

"I was telling a few of the guys earlier, 'Man, I would love to dethrone him,' but I don't know how you do it unless I go to a pitching lab in the offseason," Crow-Armstrong said, according to ESPN's Jesse Rogers. "I'll go be a closer or something and see how that helps my odds."

The remark drew laughs, but it also underscored just how unique Ohtani's value has become.

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Ohtani's two-way brilliance continues to set him apart

Ohtani has once again excelled both at the plate and on the mound this season. As a hitter, he entered the All-Star break with a .952 OPS. As a pitcher, he had posted a remarkable 1.79 ERA over 85.2 innings, giving the Dodgers elite production in both roles.

That rare combination has made Ohtani the clear betting favorite for National League MVP, with Crow-Armstrong sitting behind him as one of the top challengers.

For the Cubs outfielder, the formula remains simple. He can only continue producing at an All-Star level while helping Chicago compete in the second half of the season.

Crow-Armstrong has already emerged as one of baseball's premier center fielders thanks to his combination of power, speed and elite defense. If he keeps playing at this level, he'll remain firmly in the MVP conversation, even if, as he joked, becoming a relief pitcher isn't actually part of the plan.

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