Dodgers Press Release: Shohei Wins Hank Aaron Award

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani has won the 2024 Hank Aaron Award, honoring the top hitter in the senior circuit.

Ohtani becomes the second Dodger in franchise history to win the award, following Matt Kemp (2011). The Japan native finished his first season with the Dodgers, slashing .310/.390/.646 with 55 round trippers and 130 RBI. He joined Kemp in the 30/30 club on August 3 against the A’s and on August 24 against the Tampa Bay Rays became the sixth player in Major League Baseball history to reach 40/40, joining Ronald Acuña Jr.(2023), Alfonso Soriano (2006), Alex Rodriguez (1998), Barry Bonds (1996) and Jose Canseco (1988). He set the all-time mark on September 19 against the Marlins, as he went 6-for-6, clubbing three homers, stealing two bases and driving in 10 runs to become the first player in Major League Baseball history with 50+ homers and 50+ steals in the same season.

He led the National League in on-base percentage (.390), slugging percentage (.646), OPS (1.036), total bases (411), runs and RBI. He was the first player since 2001 to notch 400+ total bases in a single season and set a new Los Angeles Dodgers record with 134 runs in a year.

He won the National League Player of the Month (fifth of his career) after finishing the month of September hitting .393 (42-for-107) with 10 homers, 32 RBI, eight doubles, a triple, 12 walks, 27 runs scored, 16 stolen bases, a .766 slugging percentage and a .458 on-base percentage in 26 games. Ohtani is one of 25 players with at least five career awards and the 13^th player to win at least one award in both leagues.

In his first full campaign as the designated hitter for the Dodgers, he led all DHs in all but one offensive category (walks), including plate appearances (731), at-bats (636), runs, hits (197), doubles (38), triples (7), homers, extra-base hits (99), total bases, RBI, batting average, OBP, slugging percentage and OPS. His historic season ranks among the best all-time at the designated hitter position as he set new marks for a single season in runs (second all-time, Martinez, 117 in 1996), homers (second, Ortiz, 47 in 2006), extra-base hits (second, Ortiz, 87 in 2016), total bases (second, Ortiz, 336 in 2005) and stolen bases (second, Ohtani, 25 in 2021).

Ohtani is the first player in Major League Baseball history to win the Hank Aaron Award in both leagues and joins Alex Rodríguez, Barry Bonds, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Derek Jeter, Jose Bautista, Miguel Cabrera, Albert Pujols, Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Christian Yelich and Aaron Judge to win the award multiple times.

The Hank Aaron Award was introduced in 1999 to honor the 25th Anniversary of Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record, and, at that time, was the first major award introduced by Major League Baseball in more than 25 years:

Former Major League Baseball – Hank Aaron Award Winners

Year                   American League                         National League

1999                   Manny Ramirez                            Sammy Sosa

2000                   Carlos Delgado                             Todd Helton

2001                   Alex Rodríguez                            Barry Bonds

2002                   Alex Rodríguez                            Barry Bonds

2003                   Alex Rodríguez                            Albert Pujols

2004                   Manny Ramirez                            Barry Bonds

2005                   David Ortiz                                   Andrew Jones

2006                   Derek Jeter                                    Ryan Howard

2007                   Alex Rodríguez                            Prince Fielder

2008                   Kevin Youkilis                             Aramis Ramirez

2009                   Derek Jeter                                    Albert Pujols

2010                   José Bautista                                 Joey Votto

2011                   José Bautista                                 Matt Kemp

2012                   Miguel Cabrera                             Buster Posey

2013                   Miguel Cabrera                            Paul Goldschmidt

2014                   Mike Trout                                    Giancarlo Stanton

2015                   Josh Donaldson                            Bryce Harper

2016                   David Ortiz                                   Kris Bryant

2017                   José Altuve                                   Giancarlo Stanton

2018                   J.D. Martinez                                Christian Yelich

2019                   Mike Trout                                    Christian Yelich

2020                   José Abreu                                    Freddie Freeman

2021                   Vladimir Guerrero Jr.                  Bryce Harper

2022                   Aaron Judge                                 Paul Goldschmidt

2023                   Shohei Ohtani                               Ronald Acuña Jr.

2024                   Aaron Judge                                  Shohei Ohtani

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