Shohei Ohtani Achieves Historic Fourth Male Athlete of the Year Award
Shohei Ohtani, the baseball sensation, capped off 2025 by clinching The Associated Press male athlete of the year award for the fourth time, putting him on par with sports legends such as Lance Armstrong, LeBron James, and Tiger Woods for the most wins among male athletes.
Expressing his gratitude for the accolade in an exclusive interview with the AP, Ohtani stated, “Receiving this award multiple times is something truly special.” The voting, conducted among sports journalists from the AP and its affiliates, saw Ohtani secure 29 out of 47 votes, recognizing his exceptional dual dominance that culminated in securing a back-to-back World Series title for the Los Angeles Dodgers. His remarkable performance was hailed as one of the greatest in sports history.
The prestigious AP honor, which dates back to 1931, has seen multi-sport star Babe Didrikson Zaharias clinch the award six times, the highest count for both men and women.
Ohtani’s latest triumph breaks the tie with Michael Jordan, whom he idolized alongside Woods while growing up in Japan. Determined to retain his crown, Ohtani affirmed, “Last year, I said I wanted to win this award again, and I will work hard so that I can win it again next year as well.”
Armand Duplantis, the Swedish-American pole vaulter, secured the second position with five votes, while Carlos Alcaraz, the world’s top-ranked tennis player, claimed the third spot with four votes. Ohtani’s consistent excellence since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers on a record-breaking contract in 2023 has been remarkable.
In a historic feat, Ohtani became the first player in Major League Baseball history to unanimously win his fourth Most Valuable Player award. His outstanding performance this year included a remarkable on-base-plus slugging percentage of 1.014 and hitting 55 home runs. Returning to the pitching mound after a hiatus, Ohtani displayed a 2.87 earned-run average and recorded 62 strikeouts in 47 innings over 14 starts.
Ohtani’s standout moment in the post-season was his stellar performance in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, where he pitched six scoreless innings, struck out 10 batters, and hit three home runs, earning him the MVP honors for the game.
The Dodgers tactically managed Ohtani’s pitching return this year post his elbow surgery in 2023. Despite facing multiple surgeries, Ohtani, at 31, remains committed to being a two-way player throughout his career.
Off the field, Ohtani embraced fatherhood for the first time in 2025 as his wife gave birth to their daughter. While he values his privacy regarding family matters, Ohtani continues to connect with his English-speaking fans, aiming to bridge the communication gap.
Looking ahead, Ohtani eyes a third consecutive World Series championship in 2026, emphasizing the importance of staying healthy and contributing to every game.
