Shohei Ohtani was named National League MVP on Thursday, capturing all 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in the wake of another dynamic offensive season that included a successful return to pitching and was once again capped by a championship.
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber earned 23 of the second-place votes from the BBWAA, with New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (four) and Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (three) accruing the rest. Ohtani has won four MVPs over the past five years, all of them in unanimous fashion. Only Barry Bonds has more with seven.
“It’s definitely special,” Ohtani, speaking through an interpreter, said on a conference call. “It makes it special because it was unanimous, and I would like to thank all the writers for voting for me.”