Shohei Ohtani has been selected the American League Outstanding Player in this year’s Player’s Choice Awards announced Thursday.
It’s the second season Ohtani has earned a Player’s Choice award. In 2021, he was voted Player of the Year and AL Outstanding Player. Major league players voted on these awards at the end of September.
In 2023, Ohtani had 44 home runs, 95 RBIs, 78 extra-base hits and led the majors in slugging rate (.654) and on-base-plus-slugging rate (1.066) over 135 games as the Angels’ designated hitter. As a pitcher, he went 10-5 with a 3.14 earned-run average and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings.
Ohtani, who is a free agent, finished the season on the injured list, dealing with an oblique issue and having surgery to repair his right ulnar collateral ligament tear.
Ohtani and the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts were finalists for Player of the Year. Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. won that award, along with NL Outstanding Player.
Other awards in which Ohtani is a finalist for include: AL Silver Slugger at DH, the winner of which will be announced on Nov. 9, and AL most valuable player, the winner to be revealed on Nov. 16.
