(New York) Shohei Ohtani was unanimously named the American’s MVP Thursday night as Bryce Harper received the honor in the National for the second time in his career.
Ohtani received all 30 first-place votes from voters, all members of the Baseball Columnists Association of America. Toronto Blue Jays players Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Marcus Semien finished second and third, respectively.
Ohtani was batting .257 with 46 homers and 100 RBIs as the Los Angeles Angels designated hitter. He also went 9-2 with a 3.18 earned-run average in 23 starts.
It was the 27-year-old Japanese’s first full season at the mound since undergoing Tommy John-type surgery in 2019.
Ohtani was named the American’s rookie player in 2018, after leaving Japan to sign a contract with the Angels. In 2021, he became the first two-position starting player in the All-Star game since its inception in 1933.
PHOTO TED S. WARREN, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Shohei Ohtani
Babe Ruth, the last player to play the role of pitcher and hitter, had only two seasons in which he stood out at home plate while pitching consistently, in 1918 and 1919. He was sold to the New York Yankees in December 1919 and he made just five other appearances at the mound in the last 16 seasons of his career.
The 22-year-old Guerrero finished tied for the Major League main in home runs (48) and batting average of .311 with 111 RBIs. Her father, Vladimir, was named the American’s MVP in 2004.
Semien was batting .265 with 42 home runs and 102 RBIs. At 31, he’s one of the most coveted free agents during the offseason.
Harper received 17 of the 30 first-place votes and a total of 348 ballot points. Soto took second place with six first place votes while Tatis finished third.
Harper overcame being shot in the face in one game this season and maintained a .309 batting average with 35 home runs for the Philadelphia Phillies. He led the Majors in power average (.465), attendance plus power (1.044) and doubles (42).
The Phillies, however, have missed the playoffs for a third straight season since signing a 13-year contract worth US $ 330 million. Harper was unanimously named MVP in 2015, wearing the Washington Nationals colors.
Soto, who was selected in the All-Star game for the first time, averaged .313 with 29 homers and 95 RBIs for the Nationals. He led Major Baseball in walks (145) and goalscoring average (.465).
Tatis sits atop the Nationale with 42 long balls, posting a .282 batting average with 97 RBIs for the San Diego Padres.