Judge vs. Ohtani in 2024: 1.159 OPS to 1.036 and the on-base gap

Both won MVP in 2024, but Aaron Judge out-hit Shohei Ohtani on the rate stats. Judge's walks and power produced the higher OPS, while Ohtani's 59 steals and extra plate appearances narrowed the gap in total bases and runs.

Published: October 3, 2026 · Figures as of October 3, 2026

Asked: Who had the better offensive season in 2024, Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani?

Judge had the better offensive season, 1.159 OPS to 1.036

Aaron Judge out-hit Shohei Ohtani in 2024 on the rate stats that measure hitting. Both won MVP that year, Judge in the AL and Ohtani in the NL. Judge's OPS was 1.159 to Ohtani's 1.036 in the regular season. OBP counts hit-by-pitches and sac flies from the game logs.

Most of the OPS gap is on-base ability. Judge drew 133 walks to Ohtani's 81, and that is where his .458 OBP against .390 comes from. Judge also had more power per at-bat, with a .701 SLG to .646 and 58 home runs to 54.

Ohtani's case is volume and speed. He had 27 more plate appearances (731 to 704). That produced more total bases, 411 to 392, and more runs, 134 to 122. He stole 59 bases and was caught 4 times, while Judge stole 10 and was never caught. Judge's lead on the rate stats is larger than what Ohtani's extra bases and steals offset. Judge's 144 RBI to 130 also reflects lineup spot as much as skill.

By month, Judge had the higher OPS in four of seven: May, June, July and August. Ohtani led in March, April and September. Judge's March is 16 at-bats.

The WAR figures point the same way, 10.83 for Judge and 9.22 for Ohtani. That is batting WAR, which folds in baserunning, fielding and the positional adjustment, so it does not isolate offense. Ohtani was a DH. It agrees with the hitting rates but does not add to them.