Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani will not be adding another Most Valuable Player trophy to his collection this season after finishing second in the 2026 National League voting behind Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.

The Baseball Writers' Association of America announced Thursday that Crow-Armstrong unanimously captured the award, receiving all 30 first-place votes. Ohtani finished second, collecting 264 voting points, while Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang placed third with 190.

The result ends Ohtani's three-year streak of MVP victories and marks the first time since 2022 that the Dodgers superstar has not finished first in the voting.

Crow-Armstrong made a compelling case for the award after producing one of the most complete individual seasons in recent MLB history.

The 24-year-old finished with 45 home runs and 41 stolen bases, becoming just the seventh player ever to reach the 40-40 milestone. His offensive production was complemented by outstanding defense in center field, where he also earned a Gold Glove Award.

Crow-Armstrong finished the season batting .280 with a .372 on-base percentage and .570 slugging percentage. He also drove in 107 runs while establishing himself as one of the most dangerous offensive players in the NL.

His combination of power, speed and defensive production ultimately separated him from the rest of the competition. Crow-Armstrong became the first Cubs player to win the MVP unanimously and the organization's first recipient since Kris Bryant in 2016.

Although Ohtani fell short of winning his fifth career MVP, his 2026 performance remained exceptional.

The Dodgers superstar finished with 30 home runs and an .889 OPS, producing an offensive season that was 43% better than league average according to his 143 OPS+.

His pitching contributions strengthened his candidacy considerably. Ohtani posted an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA across 85.2 innings, demonstrating his ability to remain an elite option in both roles.

However, injuries ultimately interrupted his two-way campaign. Ohtani did not pitch after July 3 because of lingering issues involving his left knee and right biceps.

His offensive production also declined toward the end of the season, making it difficult to match Crow-Armstrong's overall consistency.

Nevertheless, Ohtani remained the only finalist who regularly contributed as both a starting pitcher and designated hitter.

Ohtani's second-place finish represents a change from what has become familiar during his time in Los Angeles.

He won consecutive NL MVP awards in 2024 and 2025 after previously earning recognition in the American League. His four career MVP victories place him second all-time behind Barry Bonds, who won seven.