Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Named 2025 AP Male Athlete of the Year, Makes History
Shohei Ohtani has been a history-maker throughout his dominant career as a two-way superstar, and the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and slugger made more history Tuesday.
Beth Harris of the Associated Press reported Ohtani was named the 2025 AP Male Athlete of the Year, marking the fourth time he has taken home such an honor. As a result, he tied Lance Armstrong, LeBron James and Tiger Woods for the most AP Male Athlete of the Year victories.
Multisport star Babe Didrikson holds the all-time record for a man or woman with six victories across the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.
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Ohtani—who also won the award in 2021, 2023 and 2024—received 29 of the 47 votes this year. Pole vaulter Armand Duplantis finished in second after winning a third straight world title, while tennis star Carlos Alcaraz finished in third after winning the French and U.S. Opens.
Alex Ovechkin, Scottie Scheffler, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cal Raleigh and Nikola Jokić also received votes.
"Receiving this award multiple times is something truly special," Ohtani said.
All Ohtani did this season was take home his fourth MVP in five years, win a third straight Silver Slugger, make a fifth consecutive All-Star Game and help lead the Dodgers to back-to-back World Series crowns.
He slashed .282/.392/.622 with 55 home runs, 102 RBI, 146 runs and 20 stolen bases. He also led the league in slugging percentage, OPS (1.014) and runs scored.
Just those hitting stats alone would make Ohtani arguably the best player in the league, but he also made 14 starts for Los Angeles and finished with a 2.87 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 62 strikeouts in 47 innings.
His individual dominance was never clearer than Game 4 of the National League Championship Series sweep over the Milwaukee Brewers. He launched three home runs as a hitter while pitching six shutout innings and striking out 10.
It was a breathtaking showing that underscored his overall unicorn-type impact on the game and surely convinced some AP voters to give him the award for a third straight year.
