Shohei Ohtani Becomes The First Full-Time Designated Hitter To Win The MVP

Shohei Ohtani continues to break baseball records, receiving his third MVP honor.

The Japanese professional baseball player, nicknamed "Shotime," is the designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Before joining the team, he proved himself as a valuable athlete while playing for the Los Angeles Angels and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

Now, Shohei Ohtani has become the first full-time DH to be unanimously voted as the National League's Most Valuable Player. He received the prestigious award on Thursday, November 21, marking another achievement in his illustrious career.

While playing for the L.A. Angels, Ohtani won two AL MVP awards. However, he was pitching and hitting then, making his third honor more special. Shotime became a full-time designated hitter for the Dodgers this year because of an off-season injury.

He had surgery on his pitching elbow and stayed as a DH while recovering. The situation became an unexpected blessing for Ohtani as he is officially the first full-time designated hitter to receive the MVP honor.

Ohtani joins Hall of Famer Frank Robinson as the only player to earn MVP in both the AL and NL. However, the Japanese athlete is the first player to win the award unanimously three times, proving his immense value as a player, per TMZ.

Before dominating the batter's box in 2024 as a designated hitter, Ohtani made waves for his achievements with the Dodgers. The team finished with the best record in MLB, winning the World Series, with the athlete breaking more records.

During his first season with the Dodgers, Shotime became the first big leaguer to have 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. His home runs were top in the NL, and his stolen bases ranked second in all of MLB.

Additionally, Ohtani became the second player in the NL with a .310 batting average. He leads the league in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS. These achievements reportedly made him the best hitter, increasing his memorabilia's worth.

Ohtani's achievements skyrocketed the value of his 50th home run ball, with The Blast reporting that it could fetch an 8-figure sum on auction. In October, the memorabilia had garnered over $2 million in bids.

Experts predicted it could hit $10 million before the auction closed. Ken Goldin, whose auction house handled the sale, believed the ball's value would skyrocket in the final hours. He based his claim on Ohtani's unmatched international fame and the historic significance of his home run.

"It wouldn't blow my mind. If some foreign bidder put this to eight figures and it topped $10 million," Goldin said. The auction showrunner nearly lost the right to handle the sale because of a lawsuit over the ball.

A lawsuit briefly stalled the auction, but Goldin managed to strike a deal with the plaintiffs. The legal settlement allowed the sale to proceed, opening the door for eager buyers, including Ohtani.

Goldin noted that Ohtani could join the bidding process to secure the memento. However, there was no word from him or his team. The baseball player might not need the ball to remind him of his historic feat on September 19.

The athlete launched his 50th home run over the left field wall in an electrifying game against the Marlins. As the ball sailed through the air, fans erupted in a deafening roar, knowing they had witnessed a record-breaking moment.

Earlier this year, The Blast covered Ohtani’s real estate purchase in La Cañada Flintridge. He spent $7.85 million on a modern mansion in the area, conveniently located about 13 miles from Dodger Stadium.

The seller, comedian Adam Carolla, initially listed the property last summer for $8.99 million before multiple price cuts. The three-story home featured five bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms, including a primary suite with a balcony and spa tub.

The property came with various luxuries, such as an outdoor lounge overlooking a lawn, a swimming pool, and a spa. It also featured amenities like a basketball court, movie theater, gym, and a sauna.

Shohei Ohtani bought the home months after signing a $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December 2023. What will the superstar athlete do next?