Shohei Ohtani continues to make headlines, being nominated for two ESPY awards at the ceremony tonight, July 11. Ohtani is up for the “Best Athlete, Men’s Sports” award and the “Best MLB Player” trophy at the 2024 edition of the ESPYs. He is looking to make history as the only player to win Best Mens Sports Athlete twice.
In his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani has continued to excel on the other side of LA. The two-way Japanese superstar spent six seasons with the Angels, winning two MVP awards, before signing a 10-year, $700 million contract this past offseason. Now the highest-paid player in professional baseball, Ohtani is only batting this season as he is still recovering from a UCL injury he suffered in September 2023. Still, Ohtani is performing incredibly well and is one of the frontrunners for NL MVP, leading the National League in home runs, OPS, and total bases.
Ohtani’s unique abilities have made him a must-watch player since coming to play in America. He has raked in endorsement deals with Porsche and Rapsodo and landed himself a signature shoe with New Balance. His superstardom has transcended just baseball, and he has become a household name and a massive pop-culture figure.
Ohtani is looking to take home his fourth straight “Best MLB Player” award, which would be the first time that has ever been done in ESPY history. He would only be the third recipient to win the award four times, sharing that honor with two greats in his former teammates Albert Pujols and Barry Bonds.
He is competing with Patrick Mahomes, who also has the opportunity to win Best Male Athlete twice. Shohei Ohtani has racked up nearly every milestone on the baseball field, and now it’s time to see if he can start breaking records off the field.
Photo Credit: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with his teammate Teoscar Hernández #37 after hitting a solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
