Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has been named the 2024 National League Most Valuable Player.
The decision to award the 2024 MVP to the Japanese phenom was unanimous, creating another historic moment as he becomes the first full-time designated hitter to win the award.
Consolidating his legacy as one of the greats, Ohtani’s first season with the Dodgers will be remembered as one of the most successful single seasons in sports history.
He became the first player in major league history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season, finishing with a .310 batting average, 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, and 59 stolen bases. His 1.036 OPS led the National League and was second in all of baseball behind AL MVP Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees.
The Dodgers signed Ohtani to a record-setting $700 million contract last December, and he quickly fulfilled his monumental contract.
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates in the locker room after defeating the New York Yankees in Game 5 for the Baseball World Series championship on Thursday, October 31, 2024 in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
In addition to his impressive regular season numbers, Ohtani played a pivotal role in leading the Dodgers to their first World Series victory since 2020. The Dodgers defeated the Yankees in five games, and Ohtani had significant hits throughout the postseason, including a home run. In my first playoff game.
How the Dodgers defeated the playoff demons and became the 2024 World Series Champions
Although injuries prevented him from reaching his regular-season feats, Ohtani still had heroics in the playoffs that helped silence any remaining doubters.
He was unanimously selected as National League MVP, following his previous three AL MVP awards, making him the only player in MLB history to accomplish this feat in both leagues.
Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets finished second in MVP voting, and Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte finished third.
After finally making the playoffs and winning a championship in his first year with the Dodgers, Ohtani is poised to return to the mound in 2025 as the most exciting two-way player in the game.
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