PASADENA, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani is making his mark among legends.
The baseball sensation capped off 2025 by winning the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year award for the fourth time, placing him alongside legends such as Lance Armstrong, LeBron James, and Tiger Woods for the most honors among male recipients.
“It’s really special to win this award multiple times,” Ohtani shared in Japanese during an exclusive chat with The Associated Press.
He garnered 29 out of 47 votes from a poll conducted by The Associated Press and its member sports journalists, following an impressive two-way performance that led the Los Angeles Dodgers to consecutive World Series victories. His achievements included what many consider the best single-game performance in sports history. Ohtani previously won the award in 2024, his inaugural season with the Dodgers, as well as in 2023 and 2021 while playing for the Los Angeles Angels.
The AP awards have been granted since 1931, with Babe Didrikson Zacharias holding the record for the most wins, boasting six accolades during the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s.
The highly competitive Ohtani’s latest win puts him ahead of Michael Jordan, a figure he idolized during his youth in Japan.
“I said I wanted to win this award last year, and I will do my best to win it next year as well,” he expressed.
Coming in second place was Swedish-American pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, who has secured three consecutive world titles and set a world record 14 times, including four in 2025, receiving five votes. Carlos Alcaraz, the top-ranked tennis player globally, finished third with four votes after clinching titles at Roland Garros and the US Open.
The Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press is slated for announcement on Wednesday.
Ohtani Resumes Dominance as a Dual-Threat Player
Since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers on a historic 10-year, $700 million contract in December 2023, Ohtani has displayed remarkable consistency.
This year, he unanimously earned the Most Valuable Player Award for the fourth time in his career, becoming the first player in Major League history to achieve this.
He achieved an OPS of 1.014 and hit 55 home runs. Returning to pitching after a hiatus since 2023, he delivered a 2.87 ERA with 62 strikeouts over 47 innings across 14 starts.
Ohtani’s stellar contributions in the postseason further showcased his abilities. During Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, he pitched six scoreless innings, struck out ten batters, and blasted three home runs, earning the MVP title for that match. He described it as perhaps the pinnacle of his career.
“If you think about it from a single-game perspective, I think that’s probably true,” he recalled. “It was an important game in the postseason, and I personally feel like I played very well in that game.”
In Game 7 of the World Series, he showcased his human side, managing to get a single in the first inning, but struggled on the mound. He allowed five hits in just 2.1 innings and gave up a three-run homer to Toronto’s Bo Bichette. Still, the Dodgers triumphed over the Blue Jays, marking another championship achievement.
After Game 7, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts remarked, “Shohei obviously carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. What he’s done is remarkable. He’s just an incredible person and competitor.”
Ohtani’s influence extended beyond the field; the Game 7 broadcast garnered an average of 13.1 million viewers in Japan, setting a record for the most-watched World Series game on a single network, with 51 million tuning in globally.
Ohtani’s Future Plans
“I think the higher your goals are, the more effort you have to put in,” Ohtani remarked. “If you are satisfied with the current situation, I don’t think you will be able to accomplish your goals unless you put in effort.” He is determined to keep setting high targets.
Ohtani’s return to pitching saw careful management after rehabbing from elbow surgery in September 2023. His innings were initially capped, but he gradually extended his starts as his health improved.
“I definitely get nervous when I’m on the mound,” he admitted. “It’s a position where you can strongly influence the outcome of the game, which makes pitching a very unique role.”
Now at 31, Ohtani has undergone three major surgeries but expresses a commitment to remaining a two-way player for as long as possible. “I think it’s best to keep doing it until the moment you retire,” he stated.
He is looking forward to representing Japan at the World Baseball Classic in March, though he’s yet to confirm his pitching status. “I don’t know yet if I’ll be able to pitch,” he noted. “We will now discuss how much and in what capacity I will participate.”
Aiming for a third consecutive World Series title in 2026 is among Ohtani’s key objectives, with a primary focus on health. “My minimum goal is to stay healthy and play every game without injury,” he added.
A Personal and Professional Journey
Ohtani recently became a father for the first time, with his wife Mamiko Tanaka welcoming their daughter in April. Keeping home life private, he hasn’t shared many details, including how his dog Decoy has adjusted.
His American fans appreciate hearing him occasionally speak English in public, particularly during World Series celebrations. Though he understands most languages, he continues to use an interpreter for interviews.
“I think it would be great if I could speak English fluently,” he said. “Being able to communicate directly with fans could help bridge the gap.”
Until he reaches that goal, Ohtani plans to let his performance do most of the talking.
