On Thursday, two remarkable baseball players, Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, were honored as the 2024 Hank Aaron Award winners. Ohtani, representing the Los Angeles Dodgers, secured the award in the National League, while Judge, playing for the New York Yankees, took home the accolade in the American League. This marks the second time in three years that Aaron Judge has claimed the American League Hank Aaron Award.

The recognition for Shohei Ohtani continues to accumulate, as he has been named the National League Hank Aaron Award winner. This achievement marks the second occasion for both Ohtani and Judge in winning the award. Ohtani previously garnered the award while with the Los Angeles Angels in the American League last season, and Judge earned his in 2022, when he set the American League home run record. Both players had exceptional seasons that culminated in their participation in the World Series, where Ohtani and the Dodgers triumphed, allowing him to secure his first championship.

In his inaugural season with the Dodgers, Ohtani showcased an impressive performance, recording 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, 38 doubles, and seven triples. He achieved career-high numbers in home runs, RBIs, and doubles, as well as posting a career-best .310 batting average. His .1.036 OPS ranked second in the majors, surpassed only by Judge. Ohtani also demonstrated speed on the base paths, stealing 59 bases, significantly exceeding his previous career-high of 26. Notably, he became the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. Meanwhile, Judge maintained his formidable presence at the plate in 2024, hitting 58 home runs, driving in 144 runs, and recording 36 doubles and one triple. His OPS was the best in the majors at 1.159, complemented by an impressive .322 batting average.