Por unanimous vote, Shohei Ohtani earned the American League Most Valuable Player award Thursday after a sensational season as a pitcher and slugger. something not seen since the Babe Ruth era.
In the National League, Bryce Harper won the award for the second time in his career.
Ohtani received 420 points, after grabbing 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers Association of North America (BBWAA). Vladimir Guerrero, Toronto’s first baseman, placed second.
The dominican Guerrero received 29 votes for second place, for a total of 269 points. His teammate Marcus Semien, an infielder, placed third with 232 points.
The other vote for second place was for the Venezuelan Salvador Pérez, Kansas City catcher.
Ohtani hit .257 with 46 homers, 100 RBIs and a .965 OPS, as the Los Angeles Angels’ top designated hitter. He was 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 23 starts with 156 strikeouts and 44 walks over 130 1/3 innings.
It was his first full season on the mound, after the 27-year-old Japanese right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019.
Harper beat two young Dominican players, Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr., in the vote.