Another day brings another way in which Shohei Ohtani bolsters his argument as the greatest of all time.
Ohtani has been selected as The Associated Press’ Male Athlete of the Year for a record-tying fourth time, the AP announced Wednesday. The Dodgers’ two-way superstar has earned the honor three years in a row and is one of only four male athletes to win it four times, joining Lance Armstrong, LeBron James and Tiger Woods.
“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 in Japanese in an interview with The Associated Press.
All Ohtani did in 2025 was hit 55 home runs, post a 2.87 ERA in 14 starts in his return to pitching, win his fourth Most Valuable Player Award by a unanimous vote, take home NLCS MVP honors after having one of the greatest single-game performances in MLB history and win the World Series for the second consecutive year with the Dodgers.
Oh, and he also became a father for the first time as he and his wife, Mamiko, welcomed a daughter in April.
On the diamond, he strives to do even more.
“I think the higher your goals are, the more you have to do, and the more you want to do,” Ohtani said. “If you’re satisfied with where you are now, I don’t think it’s possible to achieve your goals without putting in the effort. So, setting goals high is what I believe is most important.”
Before he and the Dodgers launch their effort for a three-peat, Ohtani is set to play for reigning champion Samurai Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He recorded the final out of the most recent WBC in 2023, blowing a fastball past then-Angels teammate Mike Trout to help Japan win the tournament title for a third time. However, it’s unclear if he will hit and pitch in next year’s Classic.
“I’m still not sure whether I’ll be pitching,” Ohtani told the AP. “I’ve been given permission to play in the tournament, but as for how much and in what way, including on the batting side, that’s something we’ll be discussing.”
The AP Athlete of the Year has been given out since 1931. The only other MLB player to win it multiple times is Sandy Koufax (1963, 1965). Multisport athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias won it six times during the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s, the most by a man or woman.