Ohtani, Judge capture unanimous MVP honors

Shohei Ohtani was named the National League's Most Valuable Player unanimously on Thursday, capping the first 50/50 season in baseball history by becoming the first full-time designated hitter to ever win MVP honors.

Ohtani joined Aaron Judge, who was named American League MVP unanimously moments earlier on MLB Network's broadcast.

The announcement came three weeks after Ohtani's Los Angeles Dodgers defeated Judge's New York Yankees in the World Series and two years after Judge's record-breaking 2022 season was enough to edge Ohtani's two-way prowess for the AL MVP.

If not for Judge, Ohtani -- a unanimous MVP three times, an unprecedented feat throughout baseball history -- would be sitting on four consecutive MVPs. He'll instead settle for three in four years, becoming the 12th player ever to win three MVPs and the second to do so within his first seven seasons, joining Stan Musial.

This last year has seen Ohtani sign an unprecedented $700 million contract and put together another historic season while recovering from a second elbow surgery. He led the NL in homers (54), RBIs (13) and OPS (1.036) while adding 59 stolen bases, 33 more than his previous career high.

Judge's second MVP came on the heels of one of the greatest offensive seasons in baseball history.

Judge led the majors in homers (58), RBIs (144), OPS (1.159) and FanGraphs wins above replacement (11.2) in a 2024 season that saw the 6-foot-7, 282-pound slugger spend most of his time in center field and lead the Yankees to a pennant. Judge's 223 adjusted OPS was the highest among right-handed hitters since 1900, according to ESPN Research. He became the third player ever with at least 50 homers and an adjusted OPS of 200 or more, joining Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds.

Judge is the seventh Yankee to win multiple MVPs, joining Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Alex Rodriguez and Roger Maris. Before Judge, Mantle's 1956 season was the only one in Yankees history to yield a unanimous MVP. Of Judge's 58 home runs, a whopping 23 gave his team the lead. But his season ended with a World Series loss against Ohtani's Dodgers, with Judge going 4-for-18 and making a key error in the decisive Game 5.

Bobby Witt Jr., the Kansas City Royals' young superstar shortstop, received all 30 second-place votes. Judge's Yankee counterpart, current free agent Juan Soto, finished third. In the National League, New York Mets shortstop finished second with 23 second-place votes and Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte finished third, capturing five second-place votes.

Ohtani's first season as a Dodger began with his longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, stealing millions in a betting scandal and ended in World Series victory, while making his first ever trip to the playoffs. In between, Ohtani set the Dodgers' single-season record with 54 home runs and 99 extra-base hits, stole more bases than any Japanese-born player in baseball history, became the first primary designated hitter to lead his league in wins above replacement and joined Ty Cobb as the only player to finish within the top two in the majors in both home runs and steals.

Shortly after the season, Ohtani underwent surgery to repair a labrum tear in his left, non-throwing shoulder, the result of an injury he suffered on an attempted steal in Game 2 of the World Series. The Dodgers believe Ohtani will be ready for spring training, at which point he will attempt to return as a two-way player.