Ohtani wins 3rd AP Male Athlete of the Year award

Shohei Ohtani is keeping elite company.

The Japanese superstar caps 2024 by winning The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time, tying him with basketball great Michael Jordan. He trails only four-time winners Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James.

"I'm very honored," Ohtani said through translator Matt Hidaka in an exclusive interview with AP. "Obviously, all the hard work has paid off. Maybe next year, I'll get the award again."

In balloting by 74 sports journalists from AP and its members, Ohtani received 48 votes. He previously won the award in 2023 and 2021, when he was with the Angels.

"Growing up in Japan, I did follow Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods," he said. "I would see their accolades, and how they were successful in the United States."

The AP honor has been given out since 1931. Golfer Babe Didrikson won six times, the most by a man or woman.

Swimmer Leon Marchand of France, who won four gold medals at the Paris Olympics, was second with 10 votes in balloting announced Monday. Golfer Scottie Scheffler, whose victories this year included the Masters and an Olympic gold medal, was third with nine.

The AP Female Athlete of the Year will be announced on Tuesday.

Moving from the beleaguered Los Angeles Angels to the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player award — his first in the National League — led his new team to its eighth World Series championship and created Major League Baseball's 50/50 club by hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases.

Ohtani signed a then-record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers in December 2023. Already a two-way superstar, he embellished his reputation even further, despite not pitching all season while he rehabilitated from a second major right elbow surgery he had in September 2023.

Ohtani went wild on offense, making every at-bat a must-see moment. The 6-foot-4 (1.9-meter) tall designated hitter batted a career-high .310, while easily surpassing his previous career highs in home runs and stolen bases.

In September, he reached the previously unheard of 50/50 mark in a performance for the ages. Against the Miami Marlins in Florida, Ohtani went 6 for 6 with three homers, 10 RBIs, two stolen bases and 17 total bases.

"It wouldn't shock me if he went 60/60 and 20 wins a year from now," Brad Ausmus, who managed the Angels in 2019 during Ohtani's second season in Anaheim, said recently. "This guy is the greatest athlete to ever play the sport of baseball and there's not a close second."

Ohtani said he knew the Dodgers' franchise record for most homers in a season was 49. His previous best was 46, set in 2021.

"I kind of wanted to get over that bar," he said. "I was pleasantly surprised I was able to pass that record."

Ohtani carried the Dodgers offensively during the regular season, and he stayed healthy until Game 2 of the World Series. He injured his left shoulder trying to steal second base against the New York Yankees and finished the series playing hurt.

He underwent surgery a few days after the Dodgers celebrated their championship in early November.

"I don't have full range of motion yet, but it feels a lot better," he said. "There's no pain. There's obviously still a little bit of tightness, but, slowly but surely, it's getting better."

Ohtani recently received an updated rehab schedule, and he's focused on the near-term.

"It's the small steps that I think are very important to get me to the ultimate goal, which is to just get back healthy," he said.

Ohtani is also throwing in the 112.6 km/h range, which is typical for pitchers early in the offseason.

"I'm going to continue to ramp up slowly," he said.

The Dodgers' rotation for next season is in flux, and Ohtani is waiting to see how it shakes out.

"We may go with a five-man rotation with a bullpen, which is what we did a lot during this season, or we may have a six-man rotation," he said. "But, it's all about balancing out when we can get rest and recuperate. We'll see where that takes us along the playoff chase. I've got to obviously pace myself, but, again, that situation will guide us to how we get there."

The Dodgers open the 2025 season in Japan, where Ohtani is even more closely watched.

"My personal goal is to be fully healthy by the time the opening games do start," he said. "To be able to pitch and hit would be great, but the situation will kind of guide itself."

Each time Ohtani comes to the plate or steps on the mound, there's great pressure and expectation for him to perform spectacular feats.

"I just go out there and try to stay within myself," he said. "I can only control what I can control, and that's where you trust your teammates. The guys behind me, you trust they're going to make the plays for you. I don't really try to overthink it."

Agencies Via Xinhua