Shohei Ohtani had one of the all-time great seasons in his first year with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which was capped off with a World Series trophy and unanimous National League MVP Award.
Ohtani was also named the NL Hank Aaron Award winner, Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter, NL Outstanding Player as part of the Players Choice Awards, Sporting News’ MLB Player of the Year, and he won a third Silver Slugger Award while being selected to the All-MLB Team.
In addition, Ohtani is adding another accolade to his name as he was honored as The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for 2024. Ohtani shared how much the award means to him, adding to his already remarkable year, via Beth Harris of The AP:
“I’m very honored,” Ohtani said through translator Matt Hidaka in an exclusive interview with the AP. ”Obviously all the hard work has paid off. Maybe next year, I’ll get the award again.”
It’s the third time Ohtani has won the honor, last taking it in 2023 and 2021 with the Los Angeles Angels. He tied Michael Jordan and trails only four-time winners Tiger Woods, LeBron James and Lance Armstrong:
“Growing up in Japan, I did follow Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods,” he said. “I would see their accolades and how they were successful in the United States.”
The award is selected in balloting by 74 sports journalists from AP and its members. Ohtani received 48 (65%) of the votes.
He was only one of just two athletes to receive double-digit vote totals, but still blew away the second-place recipient who received 10 votes — French swimmer Léon Marchand. Golfer Scottie Scheffler received nine votes to finish third.
Orel Hershiser was the last Dodgers player to win the AP Male Athlete of the Year Award, which he won in 1988. Sandy Koufax won the award twice; first in 1963, when he became the first Dodgers player to win, and again in 1965.
The AP first started naming Athletes of the Year in 1931 with the awards going to MLB player Pepper Martin and swimmer Helene Madison.
Golfer Babe Didrikson has won the award six times, more than any other person, and she first won the honor for track and field in 1932.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark was named AP Female Athlete of the Year for 2024.
Shohei Ohtani’s 2024 season
Ohtani finished the year becoming MLB’s first 50/50 player while hitting .310/.390/.646 with 38 doubles, seven triples, 54 home runs, 134 runs scored, 130 RBI, a 181 wRC+, 59 stolen bases and finishing with 9.1 WAR.
Ohtani led the NL in runs, homers, RBI, slugging percentage, WAR, on-base plus slugging (1.036) and total bases (411). It was his second consecutive season with an OPS of more than 1.000.
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