LOS ANGELES ¨C Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani was named the 2024 National League Most Valuable Player in voting conducted by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Ohtani earned 30 of the 30 first-place votes, winning the 23^rd unanimous BBWAA MVP Award and the first player to win the award unanimously three times.

The 30-year-old becomes the first Dodger designated hitter and the ninth offensive player to win the award, joining Cody Bellinger (2019), Kirk Gibson (1988), Steve Garvey (1974), Maury Wills (1962), Roy Campanella (1953, 1955, 1956), Jackie Robinson (1949), Dolph Camilli (1941) and Jake Daubert (1913). He is the 13^th player in the club history the win the award and the 15^th time the Dodgers have rostered the MVP, which is third most all-time by a franchise and trailing only the Yankees (24) and Cardinals (21). The other Dodgers to receive the award are Clayton Kershaw (2014), Sandy Koufax (1963), Don Newcombe (1956) and Dazzy Vance (1924).

Ohtani is the first player since Miguel Cabrera (2012-13) to win the award in back-to-back seasons and becomes only the second player in Major League Baseball history win the award in both leagues, joining Frank Robinson, who won the MVP in the National League in 1961 as a member of the Cincinnati Reds and in 1966 as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. He is now tied for second all-time with three MVP awards (2021, 2023), joining Mike Trout (2014, 2016, 2019), Albert Pujols (2005, 2008, 2009), Alex Rodriguez (2003, 2005, 2007), Mike Schmidt (1980-81, 86), Mickey Mantle (1956-57, 1962), Yogi Berra (1951, 1954-55), Roy Campenella (1951, 1953, 1955), Stan Musial (1943, 1946, 1948), Joe DiMaggio (1939, 1941, 1947) and Jimmie Foxx (1932-33, 38) and trailing only Barry Bonds (1990, 1992-93, 2001-2004) who owns seven MVP awards.

The Japan native finished his first season with the Dodgers, slashing .310/.390/.646 with 54 round trippers and 130 RBI. He became the first player in Major League history with 50+ homers and 50+ steals in the same season while becoming the first player to notch 400 total bases since 2001. He broke the Los Angeles Dodgers¡¯ record for runs scored in a season with 134 and finished among the Major League leaders in extra-base hits (99, 1^st), runs (1^st), total bases (411, 1^st), hits (197, 4^th), homers (54, 2^nd), RBI (130, 2^nd), batting average (.310, 5^th), OBP (.390, 5^th), slugging percentage (.646, 2^nd) and OPS (1.036, 2^nd).

Additionally, he won his third Louisville Silver Slugger, his second straight Hank Aaron Award and his fourth straight Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award and finished his historic campaign with his fifth Player of the Month honor in September. He finished the final month of the campaign hitting .393 (42-for-107) with 10 homers, 32 RBI, eight doubles, a triple, 12 walks, 27 runs scored, 16 stolen bases, a .766 slugging percentage and a .458 on-base percentage in 26 games, which included his record setting night on September 19 at Miami where he went 6-for-6, clubbing three homers, stealing two bases and driving in 10 runs to become the first player in Major League Baseball history with 50+ homers and 50+ steals in the same season.

Ohtani was the 2016 Most Valuable Player in Nippon Professional Baseball Pacific League and finished his seventh Major League campaign with the Dodgers. In seven MLB seasons, he has slashed .282/.371/.575 with 225 homers and 567 RBI while going 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA and 608 strikeouts in 86 games on the mound.

Prior to coming to the United States, Ohtani led the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters to the 2016 Pacific League Championship, hitting .322 with a 1.004 OPS, 22 homers and 67 RBI while posting a 1.86 ERA with 174 strikeouts. He played five seasons in the Nippon Professional Baseball League, batting .286/.358/.501/.859 with 48 homers and 166 RBI at the plate and a 42-15 mark with a 2.52 ERA and 624 strikeouts in 543 innings as a pitcher.