HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA — The lights were on at the Dolby Theatre, but only one name was called out – Shohei Ohtani. To a standing ovation, the 30-year-old superstar stepped onto the podium, cementing his unrivaled status as Best MLB Player at the 2025 ESPY Awards – his fifth consecutive year.
“He’s not a man – he’s the next chapter in baseball history.” – Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts.
ONE MAN – TWO WEAPONS – AND A BILLION HEARTS
During the 2024 season, Ohtani was not only the beating heart of the Dodgers, but also the beating heart of MLB. He became the first player in history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season – something that only existed in comic books.
54 Home Runs
59 Stolen Bases
130 RBI | .310 AVG | .646 SLG
1.50 ERA after pitching comeback
8.9 WAR – and an undisputed MVP
In an era where superstars are often pigeonholed into one role, Shohei Ohtani is a living declaration: “I’ll do both, and I’ll do them better.”
INJURED? NOT DEAD. JUST MORE DANGEROUS.
Early in the 2024 season, Ohtani suffered an elbow injury that was thought to take him out for the entire year. But no. He returned in August as an “immortal,” throwing 100-mph fastballs as if he had never left the field. Every time he took the field, he forced MLB to choose between hope and helplessness.
🎙 “I don’t want to be a legend. I want to do something no one has ever done.” – Ohtani, ESPY acceptance speech.
THIS ESPY IS NOT JUST A TITLE
Shohei didn’t win the “Best Male Athlete” award overall (losing to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), but for millions of baseball fans, the “Best MLB Player” award is the real throne. In the modern baseball world, where numbers are increasingly cold, Ohtani is the soul, the symphony of passion and effort.
DODGERS – A SUPER TEAM, BUT ONLY ONE LIGHT SHINES EVERYTHING
Despite being nominated in many categories, the Dodgers came up empty-handed in the collective awards. Only Ohtani – alone – brought glory. The team’s website posted immediately after the event:
“More hardware for No. 17. More proof he’s not from this planet.”
THE LEGEND IS NOT OVER – AND WILL NEVER END
A fifth consecutive “Best MLB Player” award – Ohtani has officially surpassed every record in the history of the award. But perhaps what haunts people is not the numbers, but the way he makes all the limits meaningless.
“There will come a time when we tell our children and grandchildren, ‘Dad saw Ohtani play… and it was the best thing that ever happened.’” – Bryce Harper, Phillies.
Shohei Ohtani didn’t just win a trophy. He reclaimed the definition of a sports superstar, and he rewrote the language of baseball with two arms – one throwing, one hitting – and a heart that never accepted “good enough.”