Reporters' poll swept AL first place votes,
second 'unanimous'
NL Acuña since 2021, unanimous MVP
Kim Ha-seong tied for 15th place in NL
Continuing from 2021, Shohei Ohtani swept the first place votes in the press voting for the Major League Baseball (MLB) American League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) this year. Ohtani is the first player in MLB history to win the unanimous MVP title twice.
There was no surprise. And there were no deserters. 'Dual Blade' Shohei Ohtani (29) became the first player in American professional baseball Major League (MLB) history to win the 'Unanimous Best Player (MVP)' award twice.
The Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) released the results of this season's MVP voting for both MLB leagues on the 17th, and in the American League (AL), Ohtani swept all 30 first-place votes. Ohtani also won AL MVP unanimously in 2021. Ohtani is the 19th unanimous MVP since 1931, when the BBWAA began selecting MVPs through voting. However, no player has ever achieved this record twice before.
'Batter' Ohtani recorded a batting average of 0.304, 44 home runs, 95 RBI, and OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 1.066 for the LA Angels this season. Home runs and OPS were first in the AL. 'Pitcher' Ohtani left behind 10 wins, 5 losses, an ERA of 3.14, and 167 strikeouts, even though he was unable to complete the required number of innings due to a right elbow injury at the end of the season.
Otani expresses his thoughts about receiving the award with his dog.
Ohtani, who is resting at home after undergoing elbow surgery for the second time in 2018, appeared remotely on MLB Network today and expressed his thoughts about the award. Ohtani said, “I wanted to win MVP last year, but Aaron Judge (31, New York Yankees) did really well. This year, I worked hard because I wanted to do better. The effort seems to have been rewarded. “I think it’s a very special thing,” he said. “He’s recovering from his injury well.” It feels softer than after the first surgery. “We will be able to return healthy according to next season’s schedule,” he said. Otani is currently without a team after becoming a free agent (FA) at the end of the season.
The 20th unanimous MVP in MLB history came out at the very next announcement. Ronald Acuña Jr. (26, Atlanta) was also selected as National League (NL) MVP by sweeping all 30 first-place votes. This year is the first time that the MVPs of both MLB leagues were unanimously selected. Ohtani and Acuña Jr. each received the league's Rookie of the Year award in 2018.
Acuña Jr. recorded a batting average of 0.337, 41 home runs, 106 RBI, and 73 stolen bases this season. He ranks 2nd in the NL in batting average and 1st in stolen bases. Acuña Jr. is the first player in MLB history to hit more than 40 home runs and steal more than 70 bases in a season. Until last year, there were no members of the 30 home runs-60 stolen bases or 40 home runs-50 stolen bases club. Acuña Jr., from Venezuela, plays in his country's league during the MLB off-season. He celebrated his first personal MVP award by hitting a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 6th inning in the home game that day.
Kim Ha-seong (28, San Diego) received five 10th place votes in the NL MVP voting and was ranked tied for 15th place. Kim Ha-seong is the third Korean player to receive votes in the MLB MVP vote, following Choo Shin-soo (41, SSG) and Ryu Hyun-jin (36). Shin-Soo Choo received votes in 2010 (14th in the AL) and 2013 (12th in the NL), and Hyun-Jin Ryu received votes in 2019 (19th in the NL) and 2020 (13th in the AL). 슬롯