Ohtani secures fifth Player of Month award, first in National League

Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani from Japan warming up before his match against Miami Marlins in Miami Sept 18 2024 AP-Yonhap — Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani from Japan warms up before a match against Miami Marlins in Miami, Sept. 18, 2024. AP-Yonhap

SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - Major League Baseball (MLB) superstar Shohei Ohtani has been named the National League's Player of the Month for September, marking his fifth such accolade and his first since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The team said on Monday that the 30-year-old Japanese player, who is not pitching this season due to elbow surgery recovery, achieved a historic milestone on Sept. 19 by becoming the first MLB player to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.

Ohtani's September performance was exceptional, with a .393 batting average, 10 home runs, and 32 runs batted in (RBIs). He also maintained a perfect record in base stealing, successfully taking 16 bases without being caught.

For the 2024 season, Ohtani led the National League with 54 home runs and 130 RBIs, finishing second in batting average. His outstanding play earned him two consecutive Player of the Week honors in September.

This latest achievement surpasses the previous record for monthly MVP awards held by Japanese MLB pitchers, setting a new benchmark for Asian players in the league. Ohtani is now poised to make his postseason debut since starting his MLB career in 2018.

AJP

Ohtani secures fifth Player of Month award, first in National League

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