Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani named National League MVP

FILE PHOTO – Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani smiles after reaching first base on a single off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Seth Halvorsen in the eighth inning of a baseball game Sept. 29, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

LOS ANGELES – As expected, Dodger slugger Shohei Ohtani, who this year became the first Major League Baseball player to ever hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season, was named the National League Most Valuable Player Thursday.

Ohtani won the MVP award twice in the American League during his time with the Angels, in 2021 and 2023. He joins Frank Robinson as the only players to win MVP awards in both leagues, but Ohtani is the first to do it in back-to-back seasons.

Ohtani won the National League award Thursday on a unanimous vote. He is the first designated hitter to win the award. Voting is conducted by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

The announcement was made during a live broadcast on the MLB Network, with Ohtani’s teammate and past MVP Clayton Kershaw delivering the news.

Ohtani told the network after the announcement the honor was a team effort.

“I’m just representing the Dodgers,” he said through an interpreter.

“It was a complete team effort. I wouldn’t have been able to receive this award if it wasn’t for my teammates.

Obviously, if my teammates weren’t there and we didn’t play as a team we would not have even gotten to the playoffs or won the World Series. So for me, again, I’m just taking this as I’m representing the team receiving this award.”

He said he did not go into the season “striving to get the MVP.”

“I was more focused on being one of the guys with a new team with the Dodgers,” Ohtani said. “I wanted to obviously embrace the fans as well just to let them kind of learn who I was. That was my main goal heading into the season.

“… The next goal for me is to do it again, so right now I’m in the middle of rehab and working out, getting stronger and I’m looking forward to next season so we can run it back.”

Asked if he was looking forward to returning to the mound to pitch and possibly win a Cy Young Award, he said,

“That would obviously be great, but right now my focus is just to get back healthy, come back stronger, get back on the mound and show everybody what I can do.”

Ohtani underwent left shoulder surgery following the season. He injured the shoulder while trying to steal a base during the World Series.

Ohtani hit 54 home runs and stole 59 bases, both highs for his seven-season MLB career, helping the Dodgers to baseball’s best record.

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Ohtani scored 134 runs, the most by any Dodger since the team moved to Los Angeles following the 1957 season, and led the National League in  RBIs (130),.on-base percentage (.390), slugging percentage (.646), OPS (1.036), total bases (411) and runs.

Earlier this month, Shohei Ohtani was named as the recipient of the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award for the fourth consecutive season, the National League’s Hank Aaron Award as the league’s top hitter and a Louisville Slugger Award, given to the best hitter at each position in each league.

Ohtani was the American League’s MVP in 2021 and 2023 when he played for the Angels. Ten players, including the late Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella have been three-time MVPs. The retired Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds is the only player with more, winning seven. (CNS)