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On the surface, the 2023 season presents a neck-and-neck MVP race between Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. These monumental athletes have dominated the field and captured the fascination of fans and analysts alike. Judge is the frontrunner for the American League MVP, leading MLB with impressive stats: 58 home runs, 144 RBIs, a .458 on-base percentage, a .701 slugging percentage, and a 1.159 OPS. Hot on his heels is Ohtani, who, despite not pitching this year due to Tommy John surgery, has excelled with 54 homers, 130 RBIs, a .390 on-base percentage, a .646 slugging percentage, and a 1.036 OPS.

Despite their similar statlines, Judge and Ohtani have distinct qualities that set them apart. Judge, at 32 years old, boasts a nine-year, $360 million contract, the fourth highest in MLB. Ohtani, aged 30, recently secured a staggering 10-year, $700 million deal, the most lucrative in the league. While Ohtani's dual-threat capability as a pitcher and hitter is noteworthy, his inability to pitch this season due to surgery puts more emphasis on his batting prowess.

One striking difference between the two is their baserunning. Ohtani’s speed is a significant asset, evidenced by his 59 stolen bases compared to Judge’s 10. This year, Ohtani made history as the first player to achieve at least 50 homers and 50 steals in a single season. When it comes to plate discipline, Judge exhibited more patience by swinging at 17.7% of pitches outside the strike zone, while Ohtani swung at 26.0% of such pitches.

Advanced stats reveal more contrasts: Ohtani, a lefty hitter, had a substantial difference in performance based on pitcher handedness, with a 1.128 OPS against righties versus .867 against lefties. Conversely, Judge, a right-handed hitter, showed more balanced splits, posting a 1.132 OPS against righties and a 1.240 mark against lefties. Additionally, Ohtani is more of a pull hitter, whereas Judge tends to hit more towards center field.

Their postseason performances leading up to the World Series further underscore their differences. Judge has struggled somewhat with a .161/.317/.387 slash line and a .704 OPS, including two homers and six RBIs. In contrast, Ohtani has maintained his formidable form with a .286/.434/.500 slash line, a .934 OPS, three homers, and ten RBIs, setting up an intriguing climax to the season.

Whether Ohtani's postseason heat continues to leverage an advantage or Judge's early-game dominance seals the deal, remains to be seen. What is certain is that this slugfest for the MVP title encapsulates one of the most thrilling aspects of baseball.