LOS ANGELES – Shohei Ohtani of the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers was unanimously named the National League’s Most Valuable Player, while New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge won American League honors in the same manner on November 21.

Japan’s Ohtani earned all 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America to beat New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte.

“I couldn’t have received this award without my teammates,” he said through his interpreter.

“Obviously, if my teammates weren’t there and we didn’t play as a team, we wouldn’t have even made the play-offs or won the World Series. So for me, I’m just taking this because I represent the team receiving this award.

It was the third MVP award for Ohtani, who was named unanimous American League MVP in 2021 and 2023 while he was a two-way standout while playing for the Los Angeles Angels.

He joins Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, winner in 1961 with Cincinnati and 1966 with Baltimore, as the only players to win the MVP award in each league, but he is the first to do so in both years. consecutive.

While recovering from elbow surgery that left him unable to pitch in 2024, Ohtani, who signed a 10-year, $700 million (S$941 million) contract with the Dodgers last December , became the first player in history to hit 50 or more home runs. and 50 or more stolen bases in the same season.

The 30-year-old, who is often compared to Major League Baseball great Babe Ruth because of his ability to pitch and hit at an elite level, led the National League in several categories this season, including home runs, runs produced, runs scored and on-base percentage.

“I didn’t start the season trying to get MVP,” Ohtani added. “I was more focused on being one of the guys on the new team, with the Dodgers.

“I obviously also wanted to embrace the fans and let them know who I was, and that was my main goal going into this season.”

In the American League, Judge beat out Juan Soto — a free agent who spent the 2024 season with the Yankees — and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. for MVP honors.

For Judge, who led MLB in a multitude of categories – including home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and walks – it was his second League MVP award American after also winning in 2022.

He is the 17th multiple MVP in the American League. REUTERS