Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani had 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases in the 2024 MLB season. (©KYODO)
Read the full story on SportsLook - Shohei Ohtani Selected as AP Male Athlete of the Year
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.
Continue reading the full story on SportsLook.
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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.
