Shohei Ohtani capped off his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers by earning National League Player of the Month honors for September. MLB announced Ohtani’s latest accolade one day after he received a second consecutive NL Player of the Week award.
The Player of the Month recognition is Ohtani’s fourth of his career, but first in the NL. He previously was named American League Player of the Month for the Los Angeles Angels in June 2021 and 2023, and July in both of those years as well.
Ohtani additionally was AL Rookie of the Month in April and August of 2018.
Ohtani and Mookie Betts were the only Dodgers to win Player of the Month honors this season. Betts did so for the beginning of the 2024 campaign as he received recognition for March/April.
There was a case for Ohtani to be named Player of the Month in June, but he was edged by Philadelphia Phillies All-Star Bryce Harper.
There wasn’t any such doubt with September, however, as Ohtani batted .393/.458/.766 with 27 runs, eight doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 32 RBI and 16 stolen bases over 26 games.
He set monthly-highs in runs, RBI, stolen bases, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging and on-base plus slugging (1.225).
The month of September also saw Ohtani make MLB history as the first player with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season. He also broke the Dodgers franchise record for most home runs in one season, which previously belonged to Shawn Green when he hit 49 in 2003.
Ohtani additionally led the Majors in batting average, RBI, slugging, OPS, hits (42), total
bases (82), runs and stolen bases; tied for the lead in homers; ranked second in on-base percentage; and tied for fifth in doubles.
Overall this season, Ohtani joined Ty Cobb (1911) as the only players in MLB history with a slugging percentage of at least .600 and 50-plus stolen bases in a season.
The 30-year-old broke an MLB record with at least one home run and one stolen base in 16 games this season. The record previously belonged to Rickey Henderson, who had 13 such games in 1986.
Shohei Ohtani in playoffs for first time
Now Ohtani is preparing for his first postseason experience as the Dodgers await their opponent in the NL Division Series.
They’re due to face the winner of the Wild Card Series between the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves. The best-of-three series begins at Petco Park on Tuesday afternoon.
The Dodgers host Game 1 of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium on Saturday.
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