(New York) New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge of the American League and Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani of the National League won the Most Valuable Player award on Thursday.
Judge, who earned the honor for the second time in his career, received all 30 first-place votes, easily edging out Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals, who received 30 second-place votes. Juan Soto of the Yankees finished third with 21 third-place votes.
Ohtani was named Most Valuable Player for the third time. However, this is the first time that he has won this title in the National. He won it twice in the American with the Los Angeles Angels.
He became only the second player in history to win this honor in both leagues. Frank Robinson, with the Cincinnati Reds in 1961, and with the Baltimore Orioles in 1966, had achieved the feat before him.
Could Ohtani win the Most Valuable Player award and the Cy Young Award next year by returning to the mound?
“The ultimate goal from the beginning was to win a World Series, which we were able to accomplish,” Ohtani said through a translator. The next goal is to do it again and I’m currently in the middle of rehab, training and getting stronger. »
Judge led major league baseball with 58 home runs, 144 RBIs and 133 walks. He also showed a batting average of .322.
“March and April haven’t been my best friends this year,” admitted Judge, who hit only six home runs in April. Keep working and things will change. You can’t mope around. You can’t feel sorry for yourself. Especially in New York, no one is going to feel sorry for you. So you just have to persevere and find a way to play well. »
When Judge won his first title in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes and Ohtani got the other two. The 30-year-old Japanese, who finished second in 2022, was named the American’s Most Valuable Player in 2021 and 2023.
PHOTO JUNG YEON-JE, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Shohei Ohtani
This year, Ohtani didn’t pitch, but he posted a .310 batting average, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 home runs and 130 RBIs.
He became the first player in history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season. He then helped the Dodgers win the World Series.
It also became the 12e player to win at least three Most Valuable Player awards, joining Barry Bonds, Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout.
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte were the other two finalists in the Nationals.
