Nick Castellanos Defends Jose Iglesias for MVP

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos controversially suggested that New York Mets infielder Jose Iglesias should have received the 2024 National League MVP award over Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani. Castellanos emphasized Iglesias' impact on the Mets, attributing their turnaround and playoff success to his influence, despite Iglesias playing only 85 games. Ohtani made history with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season, leading the Dodgers to a World Series title and earning unanimous MVP honors. Castellanos praised Iglesias for his leadership and cultural influence within the Mets, even as he acknowledged Ohtani's record-breaking achievements. This opinion has sparked debate, given Ohtani's dominant performance and pivotal role in the Dodgers' success. Despite his preference for Iglesias, Castellanos admitted he would choose Ohtani if starting a team, highlighting the complexity of evaluating the MVP's criteria.