Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani was named The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for a record-tying fourth time on Tuesday.
Ohtani, who also earned the distinction in 2021, 2023 and 2024, matched LeBron James, Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong for the most selections since the award was first presented in 1931.
Ohtani had been tied for the second-most wins with Michael Jordan, who was honored in 1991, 1992 and 1993.
“Receiving this award multiple times is something truly special,” Ohtani said in Japanese in an exclusive interview with the AP.
The only other baseball player to claim the AP award more than once was another Dodgers ace, Sandy Koufax, in 1963 and 1965.
Ohtani, 31, received 29 of 47 votes from a panel of sports journalists after leading Los Angeles to a second straight World Series championship and winning his fourth Most Valuable Player award in five years.
As the Dodgers’ designated hitter, Ohtani batted .282 with a career-high 55 home runs, 102 RBIs and a career-high 146 runs in 158 games.
“Last year, I said I wanted to win this award again, and I will work hard so that I can win it again next year as well,” Ohtani said.
The AP Female Athlete of the Year will be announced Wednesday. Multi-sport standout Babe Didrikson Zaharias holds the record with six selections.
