Shohei Ohtani makes history, becomes 4-time MVP after unanimous win in National League

Shohei Ohtani added yet another milestone to his remarkable career on Thursday, becoming the unanimous National League Most Valuable Player for the second straight season and earning his fourth MVP award overall. The two-way Japanese superstar has now won the honor three years in a row, and joins Barry Bonds as the only players in MLB history with at least four MVPs - though Bonds’ record seven still stands alone.


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Ohtani secured all 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America, continuing his unprecedented streak of unanimous selections. His first two MVPs came in the American League with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021 and 2023.


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After signing with the Dodgers ahead of the 2024 season, he immediately claimed NL MVP honors that year and has now repeated the feat in 2025. His tenure in Los Angeles has also been marked by back-to-back World Series championships, underscoring his outsized impact on the franchise.


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The 31-year-old excelled at the plate once again, hitting .282 with a league-leading 1.014 OPS, along with 55 home runs, 102 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases. His long-awaited return to the mound in June after an 18-month recovery from an elbow injury only strengthened his case. Over 47 innings, he struck out 62 batters while steadily ramping up for postseason action.


Ohtani’s brilliance carried into October, highlighted by what many consider one of the greatest single-game performances in MLB history. In the decisive NLCS game on Oct. 17, he launched three home runs and struck out 10 in six dominant innings, sealing a sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Kyle Schwarber finished second in the MVP voting after leading the NL with 56 home runs and pacing MLB with 132 RBIs while playing all 162 games for the Phillies. Mets star Juan Soto, who posted 43 homers, 105 RBIs and an NL-best 38 steals after overcoming a slow start, finished third.