MLB announced on Thursday that Aaron Judge, the center fielder for the New York Yankees, and Shohei Ohtani, the designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers, had been chosen the National League and American League MVPs, respectively.
In 2021 and 2023, the 30-year-old Ohtani was named the AL MVP. He led the NL in the latter two categories with a.310 batting average, 54 home runs, and 130 RBI in his debut season with the Dodgers. Ohtani finished second in hits and first in OPS for the league.
Ohtani was the first big leaguer to ever record at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. He also stole 59 bases, which was second among all players, in addition to his skill at the plate.
After spending the first six years of his Major League Baseball career with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani inked a 10-year, $700 million contract with Los Angeles prior to the 2024 season. Ohtani is a source of national pride in Japan, where he played professionally for five seasons before to moving to the United States.
Yoshimasa Hayashi, the chief spokesperson for the Japanese government, congratulated Ohtani from the bottom of his heart.
In Tokyo on Friday, he told reporters, “I look forward to even greater successes by Mr. Ohtani for the next season and beyond.”
Ohtani was instrumental in the Dodgers’ march to the World Series after helping them finish with the best regular-season record in Major League Baseball. Ohtani, a starting pitcher and two-way standout, did not play for Los Angeles this season due to Tommy John surgery he had in September 2023.
Judge won the 2022 MVP award after his Yankees lost to the Dodgers in five games during the World Series. For New York last season, he hit.322 with 58 home runs and 144 RBIs.
He finished third in batting average and led the AL in OPS, home runs, and RBIs.
In 2016, the 32-year-old Judge made his professional debut with the Yankees. Two of the last three seasons have seen him smash at least 50 home runs, including 62 in 2022. In December of that year, he signed a nine-year, $360 million contract with New York.
With 94 victories, the Yankees, under Judge’s leadership, took first place in the AL. It was their first World Series appearance since 2009.
Note: Thank you for visiting our website! We strive to keep you informed with the latest updates based on expected timelines, although please note that we are not affiliated with any official bodies. Our team is committed to ensuring accuracy and transparency in our reporting, verifying all information before publication. We aim to bring you reliable news, and if you have any questions or concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!