Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani has won The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year award for a record-tying fourth time, matching LeBron James, Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong since the award began in 1931. Ohtani earned the honor in 2021, 2023 and 2024, following his leadership of the Dodgers to a second straight World Series championship. His performance included a fourth MVP award in five years and standout stats as both hitter and pitcher.
Shohei Ohtani, the 31-year-old two-way superstar for the Los Angeles Dodgers, was named The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the fourth time on December 10, tying LeBron James, Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong for the most selections since the award's inception in 1931. He previously won in 2021 with the Angels, and in 2023 and 2024 with the Dodgers, breaking a tie with Michael Jordan's three wins. Ohtani received 29 of 47 votes from AP sports journalists.
"Receiving this award multiple times is something truly special," Ohtani said in an exclusive AP interview. The only other baseball player to win multiple times is Dodgers legend Sandy Koufax, in 1963 and 1965.
In 2025, Ohtani hit .282 with a career-high 55 home runs, 102 RBIs and 146 runs in 158 games as the designated hitter. Returning to pitching after elbow surgery, he posted a 2.87 ERA with 62 strikeouts over 47 innings in 14 starts. His postseason highlight came in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, where he pitched six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and hit three home runs, earning MVP honors. "If you think about it in terms of a single game, I'd say that's probably true," he reflected. "It was a crucial game in the postseason, and I personally feel I played quite well."
In World Series Game 7 against the Toronto Blue Jays, Ohtani struggled on short rest, allowing a three-run homer to Bo Bichette in 2 1/3 innings, but the Dodgers secured a second straight title. Manager Dave Roberts praised him: "Shohei obviously has the weight of the world on his shoulders... It's just really special what he's done. Just a great person and a great competitor." The Game 7 drew 13.1 million viewers in Japan—the highest ever for a World Series game there—and 51 million worldwide.
Ohtani joined the Dodgers on a record $700 million, 10-year deal in December 2023 and won his fourth unanimous MVP. He plans to continue as a two-way player despite three major surgeries. "I think it's best to keep doing it right up until the moment I retire," he said. He aims for a third straight World Series in 2026 and will play for Japan in the March World Baseball Classic, though his pitching role is undecided.
Off the field, Ohtani became a father in April to a daughter with wife Mamiko Tanaka, keeping family details private. He expressed interest in improving his English: "I think it would be best if I could speak in English, so even if it's just small steps, I want to keep working at it."
Armand Duplantis finished second with five votes, and Carlos Alcaraz third with four. The AP Female Athlete of the Year will be announced Wednesday; Babe Didrikson Zaharias holds the overall record with six wins.