Shohei Ohtani wins another individual award with the Dodgers
The Japanese superstar was named The AP Male Athlete of the Year for the third time in his career.
Shohei Ohtani had an unforgettable 2024 in his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Japanese superstar led the LA franchise to a World Series victory, defeating the Yankees in five games. He was also named the National League Most Valuable Player after becoming the first player in Major League Baseball history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.
Another individual award for Shohei Ohtani
And just before we say goodbye to 2024, Ohtani has bagged another individual award after the Japanese star has been named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time, tying Chicago Bulls NBA legend Michael Jordan. The only athletes to have won more awards than Jordan and Ohtani are Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James, each with four.
“I feel very honored,” Ohtani said through translator Matt Hidaka in an exclusive interview with AP. “Obviously, all the hard work has paid off. Maybe next year, I’ll win the award again. Growing up in Japan, I followed Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. I saw their accomplishments and how they were successful in the United States,” he added in the interview.
74 AP sportswriters and their members took part in the voting and Shohei Ohtani received 48 points. The 30-year-old has already won the award in 2021 and 2023, when he played with the LA Angels. The PA award has been handed out since 1931 and there is no doubt that Ohtani can add to his trio of wins as part of 10-year deal the Dodgers.
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