Shohei Ohtani is the 2024 National League Most Valuable Player. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar had an unparalleled year at the plate this season, setting historic marks. So it came to no one’s surprise Thursday night when MLB announced Ohtani as the NL MVP.
Ohtani won the award unanimously this year yet again. And in that victory, he made all sorts of league history.
For starters, Ohtani became the first full-time designated hitter to win the MVP award. Players like Edgar Martinez and David Ortiz have tried before, but Ohtani is the first to get it done.
Sarah Langs noted the remarkable feat on X.
“Shohei Ohtani is the first full-time DH to win MVP,” Langs said. Langs noted that the AL MVP with the fewest amount of games in the field before Ohtani was the great Don Baylor, who played 97 games in the field in his 1979 MVP season with the California Angels.
Shohei Ohtani is the first full-time DH to win MVP
excluding pitchers, ‘21/’23 Ohtani and the 2020 season – the prior fewest fielding games in an MVP season: 1979 Don Baylor, 97 games
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) November 22, 2024
There’s just no telling what else Ohtani is capable of achieving. Every year, he’s seemingly found a new way to outdo himself. It hasn’t mattered what league he’s playing in either. He’s excelling and is one of the greatest athletes in sports today. At the rate he’s going, he’ll become one of the greatest athletes in history in no time.
Ohtani helped the Dodgers capture their first World Series championship since 2020 this season and the first the team’s won in a full season since 1988.
With the way he’s playing, and with how loaded LA is, expect them to remain in contention for a very long time. And expect Ohtani to remain a perennial MVP candidate as well. The sports world reacted to the historic feat that Ohtani achieved.
Shohei Ohtani's first year with the Dodgers was truly historic:
– First Dodger to hit 50+ HR
– First 50/50 season in history
– First postseason appearance
– First World Series title
– Wins third unanimous MVP
– Second player to win MVP in both leagues
– First DH to win MVP pic.twitter.com/ULgiVgf8dK— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) November 22, 2024
Shohei Ohtani is the first DH to win MVP!
(MLB x @MattressFirm) pic.twitter.com/D4xvEAuJ9U
— MLB (@MLB) November 22, 2024
SHOHEI OHTANI JUST WON THE 2024 NATIONAL LEAGUE MVP
His first season with the Dodgers:
– World Series champion
– First 50/50 season ever
– First MVP as a primary DH ever
– Led NL with 54 home runs & 130 RBIs
– First since Frank Robinson to win MVP in both leaguesWOW
pic.twitter.com/C8erkZb5um
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) November 21, 2024
Shohei Ohtani in his first of 10 seasons with the Dodgers:
– Invented 50 HR/50 SB club
– Career-high in HR, RBI, 2B, SB, H, R
– First career postseason berth
– World Series champion
– Unanimous NL MVP (first primary DH to win award)Next year he's going to pitch, too. pic.twitter.com/gHDwgdzeEv
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) November 21, 2024
Congrats to Shohei Ohtani on yet another remarkable achievement in his legendary career.
