Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge have been named Major League Baseball’s Most Valuable Players in unanimous fashion by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America on Thursday. Ohtani captures the third MVP award of his career and first in the National League after a historic season in which he became the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single campaign. In his debut season with the Dodgers after signing a record $700 million, 10-year contract, Ohtani becomes only the second player to win MVP honors in both leagues, joining Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, and first to accomplish the feat in consecutive seasons.
“I’m just representing the Dodgers, it was a complete team effort, I wouldn’t have been able to receive this award if it weren’t for my teammates,” Ohtani said via a translator. “Obviously if my teammates weren’t there and we didn’t play as a team we would not have even got to the playoffs or won the World Series so for me again I’m just taking this as I’m representing the team in winning this award.” Despite not pitching this year after undergoing elbow surgery, the 30-year-old played a crucial role in leading the Dodgers to their eighth World Series title.
As the first designated hitter to win MVP honors, Ohtani posted a .310 batting average, stole 59 bases, and led the National League with a franchise-record 54 home runs and 130 RBI’s. Ohtani’s season at the pl.
