Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Wins 2024 MLB Outstanding DH Award for 4th Straight Season
Zach BacharContributor INovember 15, 2024
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Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani won the 2024 Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.
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Shohei Ohtani takes home the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award for the fourth consecutive season! pic.twitter.com/x2z64oMbDA
Ohtani has now earned the honor in four straight seasons after he was named the top designated hitter from 2021-23 with the Los Angeles Angels. His latest win doesn’t come as a large surprise, as he was already selected as a finalist for the National League MVP award following his stellar inaugural year on the Dodgers.
With his fourth win, Ohtani only trails Baseball Hall of Fame members David Ortiz (eight) and Martinez (five) for the most victories since the award was implemented in 1973.
The 30-year-old thrived in the Dodgers’ lineup, helping them finish with the most home runs and second-most runs among all National League teams in 2024.
Ohtani finished the regular season with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 38 doubles to go along with a .310/.390/.646 slash line. He also stole 59 bases, becoming the first player in MLB history to reach 50 steals and 50 home runs in the same season.
His 1.036 OPS was the best among NL players and the No. 2 mark in the majors, only trailing New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.
While he wasn’t able to continue the momentum throughout the entirety of Los Angeles’ postseason run, he still finished with 10 RBIs in 16 appearances and came up with several clutch hits as the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in five games to clinch their eighth World Series title.
MLB @MLBShohei Ohtani’s first career #WorldSeries hit goes for EXTRA BASES! pic.twitter.com/cGO1FoF5CW
After signing a massive 10-year contract with a total value of $700 million to join the Dodgers in free agency, Ohtani has already exceeded expectations in one season.
The two-way star should be pitching again during the 2025 season, although he may not be ready to take the mound on Opening Day after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum.
Still, Ohtani should continue to provide immense value as one of the best hitters in the majors after winning his fourth consecutive Outstanding Designated Hitter honor.
