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NEW YORK -- star is a finalist for his first National League MVP award -- after twice winning the American League honor -- and is joined among the top three in NL voting by shortstop and second baseman . outfielder is a finalist for his second AL MVP in three seasons, joined by shortstop and Yankees outfielder . Ohtani was unanimously voted the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way star for the and finished second to Judge in 2022.
Ohtani signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers in December, but he didn't pitch in 2024 following elbow surgery. Ohtani would join Frank Robinson for the in 1961 and the in 1966 as the only players to win the MVP award in both leagues. The is a finalist in balloting for the NL Cy Young Award and NL Rookie of the Year.
The 22-year-old right-hander becomes the fifth rookie to finish among the top three in Cy Young Award voting, after Mark Fidrych (1976), Fernando Valenzuela (1981), Dwight Gooden (1984) and José Fernández (2013). The only one to win both awards in the same year was Valenzuela in the NL. Ohtani hit .
310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs exclusively as a designated hitter, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the Dodgers to the World Series title, playing the final three games with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Ohtani would become the first primary DH to win an MVP award.
The top three finishers in voting for each of the major individual awards presented annually by the Baseball Writers' Association of America were announced Monday night on MLB Network. Winners will be revealed next week. Balloting was conducted before the postseason.
Ohtani would become the 12th player with three or more MVPs, joining Barry Bonds (seven) and Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and (three each). Lindor batted .273 with 33 homers, 91 RBIs and 29 steals, while Marte hit .
292 with 36 homers and 95 RBIs. Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322.
Witt topped the big leagues with a .332 average while hitting 32 homers with 109 RBIs. Soto batted .
288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs. 's and 's are NL Cy Young Award finalists along with Skenes, who made his big league debut May 11 and went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts, striking out 170 in 133 innings.
's , Kansas City's and closer are the finalists for the AL honor. Clase becomes the first reliever to finish among the top three in voting since 's Trevor Hoffman came in second in 2006 NL balloting. Padres outfielder and outfielder joined Skenes as finalists for NL Rookie of the Year.
Yankees right-hander and catcher are AL finalists along with Baltimore outfielder . Cleveland's Stephen Vogt, Kansas City's Matt Quatraro and Detroit's AJ Hinch are finalists for AL Manager of the Year. The three NL finalists were all first-year managers with their teams: the Mets' Carlos Mendoza, Milwaukee's Pat Murphy and San Diego's Mike Shildt.
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