Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani was named the National League MVP for the second straight season by the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Thursday, earning a unanimous vote. This marks his fourth MVP award since joining MLB. Ohtani claimed the honor over Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber and New York Mets' Juan Soto.
Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way superstar, was unanimously selected as the National League MVP for the second consecutive season on Thursday by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. This victory brings his total to four MVP awards since joining MLB, all achieved unanimously—a rare distinction. He previously won American League honors with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021 and 2023, followed by his first NL MVP in 2024 after signing with the Dodgers.
Ohtani posted a .282 batting average, led the NL with a 1.014 OPS, hit 55 home runs, drove in 102 RBIs, and stole 20 bases. As a pitcher, he returned in June after missing 1.5 seasons due to an elbow injury, striking out 62 batters over 47 innings while ramping up for the postseason. On October 17, he delivered what may be the greatest single-game performance in MLB history, hitting three home runs and striking out 10 over six innings against the Milwaukee Brewers, sealing an NL Championship Series sweep for the Dodgers.
Runner-up Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies hit an NL-leading 56 home runs and topped MLB with 132 RBIs, playing all 162 games to help his team win 96 contests. Third-place Juan Soto of the New York Mets recorded 43 home runs, 105 RBIs, and an NL-best 38 stolen bases after a slow start; he signed a 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets last December.
In the American League, Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees secured his second straight MVP in a close race over Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, with Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez also a finalist. Ohtani becomes just the second player in MLB history with at least four MVPs, behind Barry Bonds' seven, and has won the World Series in both of his Dodgers seasons.