NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani continues to break records even as the baseball season wraps up. The star player for the Los Angeles Dodgers recently garnered his third Most Valuable Player award, marking his first in the National League, an honor he achieved unanimously from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America on Thursday. Meanwhile, Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees received the American League MVP award for the second time, also with unanimous support.
Notably, Ohtani made history last year by becoming the first player to win the unanimous MVP award twice. He clinched the AL accolade in both 2021 and 2023 as a versatile two-way player for the Los Angeles Angels, finishing second behind Judge in the 2022 voting.
Due to elbow surgery, Ohtani did not pitch in 2024, but he signed a groundbreaking 10-year contract worth $700 million with the Dodgers last December. He also made history by becoming the first player to achieve both 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season, contributing significantly to the Dodgers’ victory over the Yankees in the World Series.
“Knowing I wouldn’t pitch this season allowed me to focus more on my batting, and I’m thrilled it paid off with this award,” Ohtani mentioned through a translator as he sat on a red sofa with his wife and their dog, Decoy, while teammate Clayton Kershaw made the announcement on the MLB Network. Decoy, a Nederlanse kooikerhondje, hilariously jumped off the sofa during the broadcast.
Ohtani received all 30 first-place votes, totaling 420 points, while New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor came in second with 263 points, and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte ranked third with 229 points.
Judge, also a unanimous choice for his award, led the league with standout statistics: 58 home runs, 144 RBIs, and 133 walks while batting .322. Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. was second with 270 points from all 30 second-place votes, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto followed with 21 third-place votes for a total of 229 points.
Ohtani’s impressive season included a .310 batting average, 59 stolen bases, and leading the National League with 54 home runs and 130 RBIs—all while exclusively playing as a designated hitter. A memorable moment occurred during the season’s quieter stretch when Decoy delivered the ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium before an August 28 game against Baltimore.
“The most nerve-wracking moment for me was definitely when Decoy threw out the first pitch,” he laughed.
Despite playing the final three games of the World Series with a torn labrum in his left shoulder, Ohtani is still in recovery mode; he underwent another operation on November 5 to repair his shoulder after already having right elbow surgery in September 2023. He has started working on his range of motion and core strength. “My goal is to be ready for opening day, which includes both hitting and pitching,” he stated. “But we’re taking our time with the recovery.”
Looking ahead, Ohtani expressed ambition about potentially winning both the MVP and Cy Young Award in the same year once he resumes pitching. “That would be amazing,” he acknowledged, “but right now, my priority is to get healthy and return to the mound strong.”
In an interesting twist, Ohtani became the first primary designated hitter and the first player to win the MVP without appearing defensively for a single inning. His season began under unfortunate circumstances when it was disclosed that his longtime interpreter and friend, Ippei Mizuhara, had embezzled nearly $17 million from him to fund a gambling addiction.
With his three MVP awards, Ohtani joins an elite group of players, including Barry Bonds (seven MVPs), as well as Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, and Mike Trout—all of whom have won three MVPs.
It’s essential to note that the voting occurred prior to the postseason. “I believe we now have a target on our backs,” Ohtani remarked. “Expectations are high, and we may need to elevate our game even further.”
Judge also reflected on his performance during the season, acknowledging slow start as he hit .207 with just six home runs and 18 RBIs through April, but turned it around to finish with a .352 average, 52 homers, and 126 RBIs over 127 games. “March and April were tough for me,” Judge shared. “But I kept working hard, and I knew things would eventually turn around. In New York, no one is going to feel sorry for you, so I just focused on delivering results.”
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