Baseball

Shohei Ohtani Selected as AP Male Athlete of the Year

MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani became the fifth athlete to win the award more than twice, joining Michael Jordan, Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James.

by
Ed Odeven
December 24, 2024

For Shohei Ohtani, the accolades keep on coming.

A month after winning the National League MVP Award, the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar was named The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year on Monday, December 23.

The prestigious honor has been awarded annually since 1931.

"I'm very honored," Ohtani told The Associated Press through an interpreter. "Obviously all the hard work has paid off. Maybe next year, I'll get the award again."

As a pitcher/designated hitter, Ohtani won the AP award for the first time in 2021, then received it again for his outstanding overall play for the Los Angeles Angels in 2023. Both years he was the unanimous choice for the American League MVP Award.

In 2024, he was also a unanimous MVP pick in his first season with the Dodgers, who triumphed over the New York Yankees in the World Series. And he became MLB's first three-time unanimous MVP Award winner.

Ohtani was the overwhelming selection for 2024's AP award, getting 48 of 74 votes by journalists.

French swimmer Leon Marchand, who captured four gold medals at the Paris Olympics, placed second with 10 votes. Golfer Scottie Scheffler, who won seven PGA Tour titles, including the Masters, and the Olympic gold this year, received nine votes.

Shohei Ohtani Joins Elite Company

As a three-time AP Male Athlete of the Year, Ohtani joins a handful of athletes to be selected more than twice. NBA legend Michael Jordan also won it three times, and cyclist Lance Armstrong, golfer Tiger Woods and basketball great LeBron James have four apiece.

Ohtani's name is now linked with sports icons whose great accomplishments resonated with him during his youth.

"Growing up in Japan, I did follow Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods," Ohtani said, according to The Associated Press. "I would see their accolades and how they were successful in the United States."

Shohei Ohtani Produced Personal-Best Marks in 2024

The pride of Iwate Prefecture had a career-best .310 batting average in 2024, his first season with the Dodgers. He bashed 54 home runs and drove in 130 runs, career-high and NL-best totals. What's more, Ohtani had 59 stolen bases, 33 more than his previous high.

In doing so, he became the first 50-50 player in MLB history, finishing with more than 50 homers and 50 steals in the same season. And he nearly won the NL Triple Crown, finishing second in batting.

Ohtani didn't pitch for the Dodgers in the first year of his blockbuster 10-year, $700 million USD (¥100 billion JPY) contract after undergoing surgery on his right elbow in September 2023. But he continues to make preparations for 2025, aiming to return as a two-way player.

The reigning World Series champion Dodgers open their season against the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome on March 18 and 19.

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.