Ohtani wins 3rd MVP award, 1st in NL; Judge wins second AL MVP in 3 seasons

Associated Press | Thursday, November 21, 2024 6:41 p.m.

The Yankees’ Aaron Judge rounds the bases after a two-run home run against the Dodgers during the first inning in Game 5 of the World Series.

NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani won his third MVP Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday.

The L.A. Dodgers’ Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points, and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229.

New York Yankees outfielder Judge was a unanimous pick to win his second American League MVP Award in three seasons, easily outdistancing Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.

Judge received all 30 first-place votes in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Witt got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points.

Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Witt topped the big leagues with a .332 average, hitting 32 homers with 109 RBIs. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs.

When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes, and Ohtani got the other two.

Ohtani was voted the AL MVP unanimously in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels and finished second to Judge in 2022 voting. He didn’t pitch in 2024 after elbow surgery and signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers last December.

Ohtani hit .310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs exclusively as a designated hitter, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the Dodgers to the World Series title, playing the final three games with a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

Ohtani became the first primary DH to win an MVP. He joined Frank Robinson for Cincinnati in 1961 and Baltimore in 1966 as the only players to win the MVP award in both leagues.

Ohtani is the 12th player with three or more MVPs, joining Barry Bonds (seven) and Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout (three each).

Lindor batted .273 with 33 homers, 91 RBIs and 29 steals, and Marte hit .292 with 36 homers and 95 RBIs.

Balloting was conducted before the postseason.