Shohei Ohtani: Sensational two-way baseball star is unanimous choice for MVP of US Championship
Ohtani, 27, is about to have a historic season that will see him star on both the mound and record for the Los Angeles Angels, an achievement that has been compared to Hall of Famer Babe Ruth.
As a starter, Ohtani made 23 appearances, winning nine while suffering two losses. The Japanese hurdler launched 156 shots.
As a popular player, he’s gone through 46 home runs – second only to the 48 HRs of Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals and Vlad Guerrero of the Toronto Blue Jays – and driven 100 times in 155 games. He also stole 26 bases.
Ohtani’s performance also made him the first player in American League or National League history to have at least 45 home team players, 25 stolen bases and five triples in a single season.
Ohtani joins teammate Mike Trout as AL MVP. Trout, who has missed much of the 2021 season through injury, won the award in 2014, 2016 and 2019.
In Japan, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida weighed in on Friday. “It is an extraordinary achievement and as a Japanese citizen, I feel very proud,” he said.
Harper was selected first by 17 writers, and second choice by nine more, marking his wins over Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals, who finished second, and Fernando Tatis Jr of the San Diego Padres, who came in second. Tuesday.
Harper previously won the NL MVP when he played for the Washington Nationals in 2015.