The 2026 National League MVP plaque would be heading to Chicago if it was up to Sammy Sosa.
The Cubs legend told the California Post on Thursday that he believes Pete Crow-Armstrong is more deserving of the coveted honor this year than Shohei Ohtani.
“Shohei Ohtani is one of the greatest,” Sosa said while walking the red carpet at the Harold & Carole Pump Foundation 26th Anniversary Celebrity Dinner. “Nobody is going to take that away from him. But I believe that this year, the MVP is looking to Chi Town, Chicago.”
Crow-Armstrong, the Cubs’ star outfielder, is currently viewed as a slight favorite to win the award over Ohtani, the Dodgers’ must-see two-way player.
Crow-Armstrong has 31 home runs, 31 stolen bases and a .279 batting average in 128 games. Ohtani, meanwhile, has logged 30 home runs, seven stolen bases and a .291 batting average in 118 contests.
And while Ohtani has pitched at an All-Star level in addition to being one of the most feared hitters in the game, Crow-Armstrong’s centerfield defense has arguably been the best in the league.
The Post’s Jon Heyman gave the slight edge to Crow-Armstrong on Thursday morning — something Sosa made clear later in the day that he agreed with.
“I’d have to say Pete has a lot of opportunity, a lot of possibility to be an MVP the way he’s been carrying the team; the way he’s been having the year that he’s been having,” Sosa said.
