The baseball superstar ends 2025 by winning The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year award for the fourth time, tying him with Lance Armstrong, LeBron James and Tiger Woods for most male honorees.
Advertisement
“To receive this award multiple times is really special,” Ohtani said in Japanese in an exclusive interview with the AP.
Ohtani received 29 of 47 votes in voting among AP sportswriters and their members after his two-way dominance culminated in a repeat World Series title for his Los Angeles Dodgers, turning in perhaps the greatest single-game individual performance in sports history along the way. He previously won the award in 2024, his first season with the Dodgers, and in 2023 and 2021, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.
The AP honor has been awarded since 1931. Multi-sport standout Babe Didrikson Zaharias won six times during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, the most for a man or woman.
The ultra-competitive Ohtani’s latest victory broke a tie with Michael Jordan, whom he followed along with Woods while growing up in Japan.
Advertisement
“Last year I said I wanted to win this award again and I will work hard to be able to win it again next year too,” he said.
Swedish-American pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, who won his third consecutive world title and has set the world record 14 times, including four in 2025, came second with five votes in voting announced Tuesday. Carlos Alcaraz, the world’s top-ranked tennis player who won titles at the French and U.S. Opens, was third with four.
The AP Female Athlete of the Year will be announced Wednesday.
Ohtani returns to two-way supremacy
Ohtani has shown remarkable consistency since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers on a record $700 million, 10-year contract in December 2023.
Advertisement
He won his fourth career MVP award (second with the Dodgers) by unanimous vote, the first player in Major League history to do so.
This year, he posted a 1.014 OPS and hit 55 home runs. Returning to the mound for the first time since 2023, he had a 2.87 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 47 innings over 14 starts.
Ohtani saved the best for the postseason.
In Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, he pitched six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and hit three home runs to earn Most Valuable Player honors. He said it was his best game in a career full of incredible feats.
Advertisement
“If you think about it in terms of a single game, I would say that’s probably true,” he said. “It was a crucial game in the postseason and I personally feel like I played pretty well in that game.”
Do you surprise yourself?
“Well, yes, there are times when I feel that way about myself and, of course, there are times when I think I’m not good enough,” he said, “so I guess athletes experience both types of feelings.”
Another year, another championship for Ohtani and the Dodgers
Ohtani showed he’s human in Game 7 of the World Series. He singled in the first inning and then took the mound on short rest, but struggled with his command. He allowed a three-run homer to Toronto’s Bo Bichette along with five hits in 2 1/3 innings.
Advertisement
But he and the Dodgers lifted a second straight World Series trophy after outlasting the Blue Jays in the most brilliant Series in recent memory.
“Shohei obviously has the weight of the world on his shoulders as far as expectations, probably being the face of baseball, certainly when you talk about the world,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Game 7. “It’s really special what he’s done. Just a great person and a great competitor.”
Ohtani’s presence has been transformative for MLB’s global reach. Game 7 of this World Series averaged 13.1 million viewers in Japan, the most-watched World Series game on a single network in that country, and 51 million watched it worldwide, making it the most-watched game since Game 7 of the 1991 World Series.
How does Ohtani continue to outdo himself?
Advertisement
“I think the higher your goals are, the more you have to do and the more you want to do,” he said. “If you’re happy with where you are now, I don’t think it’s possible to achieve your goals without putting in some effort. That’s why the most important thing is to set high goals.”
The Dodgers carefully managed Ohtani’s return to pitching this year by gradually increasing his workload after rehabbing from elbow surgery in September 2023. His innings were initially limited before he was allowed to make longer starts as he felt better.
“When it comes to feeling nervous, being on the mound definitely makes me more tense,” he said. “It’s a position where you can single-handedly ruin a game, and at the same time, it’s also a position where you can contribute to a win. So, in my opinion, I feel like being a pitcher is really a special role.”
At 31 years old, Ohtani has undergone three major surgeries: two on his right elbow and another on his left shoulder. Regardless of the physical and mental toll, he plans to remain a two-way player throughout his career.
Advertisement
“I think it’s best to keep doing it until the time I retire,” he said.
Ohtani plans to play for Japan in the World Baseball Classic in March.
“I’m not sure if I’ll pitch yet,” he said. “I have been given permission to play in the tournament, but as to how much and in what way, even on the batting side, that is something we will be discussing.”
Winning a third consecutive World Series championship is one of Ohtani’s biggest goals in 2026.
“Staying healthy and appearing in every game without injuries is the smallest goal I have,” he said.
An exciting year also off the field
Advertisement
Ohtani became a father for the first time when his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, gave birth to their daughter in April. He carefully guards against revealing his name and any details about his family life. It is also unknown how his beloved dog Decoy reacted to having a new sibling.
Ohtani’s American fans enjoy hearing him speak English on the rare occasions he has done so publicly, including both World Series celebrations. He understands most of the language, although he uses an interpreter in interviews.
“I think it would be better if I could speak in English, so even if it’s just small steps, I want to keep working on it,” he said. “Whether it’s with fans or in different situations, being able to speak directly in English could help bridge the gap between us.”
In the meantime, he’ll continue to let his bat and arm do a lot of the talking.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB