Shohei Ohtani Wins Fourth MVP Award; 4x Unanimous Vote Winner

As amazing as Shohei Ohtani has been with the Dodgers in his first two seasons, it begs the question why he didn't reach these heights with the Angels' organization. I still can't figure that one out.

But let's not lose the opportunity to celebrate Ohtani's fourth career MVP award:

Ohtani has won four MVPs over the past five years, all of them in unanimous fashion. Only Barry Bonds has more with seven.

"It's definitely special," Ohtani, speaking through an interpreter, said on a conference call. "It makes it special because it was unanimous, and I would like to thank all the writers for voting for me."

Ohtani, 31, had already joined Hall of Famer Frank Robinson as the only players to win MVP in both leagues and the only player among the four major American professional sports with more than one unanimous MVP. Now he is the first player in MLB, NBA, NHL and NFL history to win both an MVP and a championship in each of his first two seasons with a team, according to ESPN Research.

In true Ohtani fashion, he prioritized this year's World Series team victory over his own individual accomplishment:

“The biggest thing,” Ohtani said through an interpreter of this 2025 win, “is obviously being able to win the World Series. That's first and foremost. You know, it's icing on the cake to be able to get an individual award, being crowned MVP, but I just really appreciate the support from all my teammates, everybody around me, my supporting staff.”

The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya also has a nice piece, which ends with this:

In Game 3 of the World Series against the Blue Jays, Ohtani showed the world something else they’d never seen. He’d pounded Toronto through his first four at-bats, slugging a pair of doubles and two home runs to will the Dodgers to a 5-5 tie. Toronto manager John Schneider saw enough and put him on with intentional walks each of the next four times he went to the plate in an eventual 18-inning marathon. When Ohtani came up a ninth time on the night, he was walked on four pitches. It marked the first time in any game since 1942 that a batter had reached safely nine times, and no one had ever reached more than six times in a World Series game.

“We’re still running out of words to describe a once-in-a-ten-generational player,” Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman said.

Now, Ohtani has even more hardware.

Congratulations, Shohei Ohtani!

Ohtani Wins Third Career MVP Award In Unanimous Fashion

It may have been inevitable, but it was still great to see Dodger Shohei Ohtani win the 2024 National League MVP Award in unanimous fashion (30 first place votes). From MLB.com:

Ohtani is the Dodgers’ 13th MVP and first since Cody Bellinger in 2019. He’s the sixth player to win an MVP with multiple franchises, joining Harper, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, [Frank] Robinson and Jimmie Foxx, and just the second to win one in both leagues (Robinson). He’s also the first player since Miguel Cabrera (2012-13) to win an MVP in back-to-back years. Ohtani had already been the first player to win multiple unanimous MVPs (in 2021 and 2023 with the Angels). Now, he’s done it again.

Wrote Jack Harris of the LAT:

While no designated hitter had won an MVP, the award was not a surprise. In his first season with the Dodgers, Ohtani led the NL in home runs (54), RBIs (130) and on-base-plus-slugging percentage (1.036). He was second in batting average (.310). And with 59 steals, he became the first player in history with a 50-homer, 50-steal season.

It is the Dodgers' 15th MVP award and first since Cody Bellinger in 2019. The Dodgers rank third in MVP award recipients, behind the Yankees (24) and Cardinals (21).

Congratulations, Shohei Ohtani!

photo: Associated Press and Getty Images; photo illustration by Tim Hubbard / Los Angeles Times

Shohei Ohtani Named 2024 NL MVP Finalist

Ohtani is going to need another arm, let alone another shoulder.

Along with Francisco Lindor and Ketel Marte, the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani has been named a finalist for the 2024 NL MVP award.

Ohtani was unanimously voted the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels and finished second to Judge in 2022. Ohtani signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers in December, but he didn't pitch in 2024 following elbow surgery.

Ohtani would join Frank Robinson for the Cincinnati Reds in 1961 and the Baltimore Orioles in 1966 as the only players to win the MVP award in both leagues. [...]

Ohtani hit .310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs exclusively as a designated hitter, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the Dodgers to the World Series title, playing the final three games with a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

Ohtani would become the first primary DH to win an MVP award.

The top three finishers in voting for each of the major individual awards presented annually by the Baseball Writers' Association of America were announced Monday night on MLB Network. Winners will be revealed next week.

Balloting was conducted before the postseason.

Ohtani would become the 12th player with three or more MVPs, joining Barry Bonds (seven) and Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout (three each).

This vote shouldn't even be close. But let's see if it's unanimous (as it was in 2021 and 2023, for the AL MVP award).

BREAKING: Water Wet, Sky Blue, Kershaw Amazing

Clayton Edward Kershaw is YOUR 2014 NL Most Valuable Player AND NL Cy Young Award winner. Not too shabby. Kid K becomes the first NL pitcher to accomplish the feat since Bob Gibson in 1968 (a mere twenty years before Clayton was born).

Congratulations, Clayton. We know this year did not end the way you wanted, but we bet you still have room on that lovely mantel behind you for a World Series MVP trophy, which should be coming along any old time now.