Ohtani received all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in balloting by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. He was a unanimous winner of the award on Thursday in the US for a hitting and pitching display not seen since Babe Ruth.īryce Harper earned the National League honor for the second time. Ohtani’s two-way season was so incredible, MVP voters filled out the top of their ballots only one way. “After all, who knows when you might be able to see the next Ohtani in a game right here?” he said.
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Shares in sporting goods firm Asics rose, while Zett Corp, a little-known sports company whose share price soared in July when Ohtani played in the All-Star game, fell after an initial spike just after the news came out.Īlthough baseball has lost ground to soccer in Japan in the past few years, Ohtani’s MVP is likely to inspire more to play the game - and more to watch, giving Japanese professional baseball a boost, Matsuoka said. “Some people are calling him the best baseball player they’ve ever seen.” “He gives Japan a certain status in MLB it has never had before,” he said in remarks made to reporters before the award announcement. “Ohtani is earnest and humble, so even if he doesn’t say anything, he’s appealing - and he appeals to men, women, young and old,” Matsuoka said.Īlthough Suzuki was popular, Ohtani goes one better, said Robert Whiting, the author of several books on Japanese baseball. Ohtani’s popularity stems from his athletic ability and his character, which combines quiet strength and the humbleness Japan respects most in its heroes, said Hirotaka Matsuoka, a sports marketing professor at Tokyo’s Waseda University. Later, banners proclaiming the win were hung from Oshu City Hall.Įven Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida joined, telling reporters: “It’s an extraordinary accomplishment and as a Japanese citizen, I feel very proud.”
Tokyo Tower yesterday is illuminated in the colors of the Los Angeles Angels to celebrate MLB player Shohei Ohtani’s American League MVP award.Ĭity hall workers in Ohtani’s hometown of Oshu, Iwate Prefecture, gathered in Angels jerseys, cheering and clapping.
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