Major League Baseball announced two-way star Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels was voted as the winner of the 2022 Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, making him the first player to win it in consecutive years since Hall of Famer David Ortiz, who won it five consecutive times from 2003-2007.
In addition, the 2021 American League MVP, who finished second in voting this season behind Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, became the 11th player to win the award multiple times.
Ohtani batted .273/.356/.519 with 90 runs scored, 159 hits, 29 doubles, six triples, 34 home runs, 95 RBI, 11 stolen bases and a 142 wRC+ across 153 games. Among all qualified DHs with 100 at-bats, Ohtani ranked first in hits, runs, total bases (302), triples, home runs, runs batted in, and walks (72).
The left-handed hitter registered six multi-homer games during the season. On May 14, Ohtani hit his 100th career homer, and his 127 career home runs rank second among all Japanese-born players behind only Hideki Matsui (175).
On June 21, Ohtani posted a career-high eight RBI to go along with two homers in a 12-11 loss vs. Kansas City, which marked the most RBI in a single contest by a Japanese-born player in MLB history. The 28-year-old also posted a career-best 18-game hitting streak from Sept. 14 to Oct. 3, batting .348 in that stretch.
The Outstanding Designated Hitter Award is now in its 49th season and was renamed by Commissioner Bud Selig in a September 2004 ceremony at Safeco Field in honor of the retiring Martinez. Ballots are cast by club beat writers, broadcasters and public relations departments with nominees including all players with a minimum of 100 at-bats as a DH.
Marcell Ozuna was the last non-Ohtani player to win the award, taking it in the 2020 season for the Atlana Braves and becoming the first and only National League player to win the honor. Orlando Cepeda was the first to win it for his offensive contributions to the Boston Red Sox in 1973.
Yordan Alvarez runner up to Shohei Ohtani
Houston Astros outfielder and DH Yordan Alvarez finished second in voting after batting .299/.410/.593 with 19 home runs, 52 RBI, 18 doubles, 55 runs scored in 77 games as a designated hitter.
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