Superstar Shohei Ohtani, 29, has won the Edgar Martinez Award for the best designated hitter in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the third consecutive year.
“Ohtani is only the second player in history to win the award three times in a row,” MLB.com reported on Monday.
He is the first player to win the award three years in a row since David Ortiz, who won it five times from 2003 to 2007.
Ohtani had a breakout year for the Los Angeles Angels, splitting time at the plate.
In 135 games as a hitter, he posted an impressive .304 batting average (4th), 44 home runs (1st), 95 RBI (tied for 14th), .412 slugging percentage (1st), and .654 on-base percentage (1st-overall American League).
As a pitcher, he went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA.
Ohtani, who made a big mark in MLB history as a pitcher and a hitter, is collecting trophies this winter.
Last month, he was unanimously named the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP), and he also won the Silver Slugger award for the best designated hitter.
However, Ohtani injured his elbow late in the season and will only be able to play designated hitter next season.
We won’t see him in a two-hitter until 2025 or later.
However, Ohtani’s price tag is still sky-high.
Local media outlets expect Ohtani, who becomes a free agent after the 2023 season, to sign a contract totaling $500 million for the first time ever.
MLB has been recognizing the best designated hitter since 1973, and the award has been given under its current name since 2004 in honor of Seattle Mariners legend Edgar Martinez. 스포츠토토사이트