JUST IN: At The Peak Of His Carreer Ohtani wins third career MVP Award Admits The Happiest Man Alive Pledged $5000 To Every Dodgers Staff

November 22, 2024 Admin los angeles dodgers 0

Shohei Ohtani wins 2024 NL MVP Award unanimously

Unanimous yet again: Ohtani wins third career MVP Award

LOS ANGELES — Since coming to the Majors in 2018, Shohei Ohtani has made history at every turn. He can now add another historic accomplishment to his already decorated career.

After posting the best offensive season of his career, which saw him become the first player to reach the 50-50 club, Ohtani won the third BBWAA Most Valuable Player Award of his career on Thursday, becoming the first full-time designated hitter to accomplish the feat.

  • All-time MVP winners

Ohtani, who is the first Dodger to win the award since Cody Bellinger in 2019, was chosen unanimously for the third time in his career, becoming the first player to do so. He joined Frank Robinson as the only players to win at least one MVP Award in both leagues and is the first back-to-back winner since Miguel Cabrera in 2012-13.

The Japanese superstar became the sixth player to win an MVP Award with two franchises, regardless of league, since BBWAA voting began in 1931. Of those, only Barry Bonds and Ohtani have taken home the prize in their final year with one team and then in their first with a new club.

Shohei Ohtani reacts to being named NL MVP

“This MVP, I’m just representing the Dodgers,” Ohtani said through interpreter Matt Hidaka on the announcement show Thursday night on MLB Network. “It was a complete team effort. I wouldn’t have been able to receive this award if it weren’t for my teammates.”

Shohei Ohtani on winning BBWAA NL MVP

Fittingly, then, it was Ohtani’s teammate Clayton Kershaw who announced the award. Kershaw, who won the NL MVP in 2014, made the announcement, then congratulated Ohtani, who was all smiles amid family and friends. (Ohtani’s beloved dog, Decoy, scampered off the couch at the excitement.)
En route to his third MVP, Ohtani beat out Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, who finished second, and D-backs second baseman Ketel Marte, who finished third.

After signing a historic 10-year, $700 million deal last offseason, all eyes were on Ohtani to perform. But even with the massive expectations, Ohtani was able to exceed them all in his first season with the Dodgers.

Ohtani, of course, also became the first player in baseball history to hit 50 or more homers and steal 50 or more bases in the same season. He accomplished that feat by delivering arguably the best single-game performance in Major League history, a 6-for-6, three-homer masterpiece against the Marlins at loanDepot park.

But in the final month of the regular season, as the Dodgers chased down another NL West title, Ohtani saved his best for last. In the final 26 games of the regular season, Ohtani hit 10 homers, drove in 32 runs and posted a 1.225 OPS, his best mark of any month in 2024. Those numbers helped the Dodgers edge out the Padres for the division and solidified Ohtani’s place as the clear frontrunner to win his third MVP Award.

 

 

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