by Cary Osborne
Two Dodgers — both former Hank Aaron Award winners — are among the 10 nominees for the 2024 National League Hank Aaron Award.
Shohei Ohtani, the 2023 American League Hank Aaron Award winner, and Freddie Freeman, the 2020 NL winner, are both in the running for this year’s prize.
The award is given annually to the best overall offensive performer in each league. The award was introduced in 1999.
Ohtani had one of the greatest offensive season in Major League history. He became the first 50/50 player (at least 50 home run and stolen bases in the same season) and the fastest to 40/40.
He led the NL in:
Home Runs — 54
RBI — 130
Total bases — 411
Extra-base hits — 99
On-base percentage — .390
Slugging percentage — .646
OPS — 1.036
OPS+ — 190
wRC+ — 181
bWAR — 9.2
fWAR — 9.1
He finished second in batting average (.310), hits (197), walks (81) and stolen bases (59).
Freeman batted .282/.378/.476/.854 with 22 home runs, 35 doubles and 89 RBI. He ranked fourth in the NL in OBP, sixth in OPS, 10th in batting average and doubles and sixth with a 143 OPS+.
A committee of MLB.com journalists reviewed the top offensive statistics, accomplishments, and performances of the regular season to determine the 10 finalists for each league.
MLB legends and past recipients of the prestigious award comprise the renowned panel that will elect the winners going forward. The distinguished panel includes Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones, Pedro Martínez, John Smoltz, Johnny Bench, Craig Biggio, Eddie Murray and Robin Yount.
Fans also have the opportunity to cast their vote on who should receive this distinguished award by voting from the list of finalists in each the American League and National League through MLB.com/aaron. The voting window begins today and runs through Sunday, Oct. 13.
The Hank Aaron Award winners will be announced live from The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan Thursday, Nov. 14 during a special presentation at the “All-MLB Team Show presented by MGM Rewards.”
Ohtani and Freeman are each up for a second career Hank Aaron Award was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.