Shohei Ohtani, the remarkable two-way sensation of Major League Baseball (MLB), has once again etched his name in the annals of sporting history by being named The Associated Press’ Male Athlete of the Year for 2023. This accolade marks the second time Ohtani has received this prestigious honor, previously winning it in 2021. His achievement places him in an exclusive circle of only 11 male athletes who have been honored multiple times, a list that includes luminaries such as LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Dodgers legend Sandy Koufax.
Ohtani’s selection was backed by 20 of the 87 votes from a panel of sports media professionals, edging out other sports giants like soccer star Lionel Messi, tennis great Novak Djokovic, and NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic. The award is a testament to Ohtani’s unparalleled performance in 2023, where he was the unanimous American League MVP for the second time and received the Hank Aaron Award.
| Athlete Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| Shohei Ohtani | 20 |
| Novak Djokovic | 16 |
| Lionel Messi | 16 |
| Nikola Jokic | 12 |
| Patrick Mahomes | 7 |
| Max Verstappen | 4 |
| Ronald Acuña Jr. | 3 |
| Noah Lyles | 3 |
| Erling Haaland | 2 |
Statistically, Ohtani’s season was nothing short of phenomenal. With the Los Angeles Angels, he blasted 44 home runs, secured 78 extra-base hits, and accumulated 325 total bases, along with a staggering 1.066 OPS. As a pitcher, he maintained an American League-best .184 batting average against him, struck out 167 batters, and posted a 3.14 ERA over 132 innings before a right elbow injury ended his season prematurely, necessitating surgery in September. This injury implies that Ohtani will not be pitching again until 2025.
Besides his MLB feats, Ohtani also shone internationally, capturing a gold medal with Team Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. His performance peaked in a memorable showdown against Team USA captain and Angels teammate Mike Trout.
Ohtani’s recognition as the AP Male Athlete of the Year is a rare honor for MLB players. In the past decade, only three other MLB stars have received this distinction: Aaron Judge of the Yankees (2022), Jose Altuve of the Astros (2017), and former Giants ace Madison Bumgarner (2014).
