Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has been awarded the 2024 Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, marking his fourth consecutive win of this prestigious honor. Ohtani's achievement follows three straight years of winning the award as the top designated hitter while playing for the Los Angeles Angels.

Ohtani's recognition is not unexpected, as he also garnered attention as a finalist for the National League MVP award during his impressive inaugural season with the Dodgers. With this latest accolade, Ohtani only trails Baseball Hall of Fame members David Ortiz, who leads with eight awards, and Edgar Martinez himself, who secured five, for the most wins since the award's inception in 1973.

In 2024, the 30-year-old excelled in the Dodgers' lineup, contributing significantly to their offensive success. The team finished the regular season with the most home runs and the second-most runs scored among all National League teams. Ohtani's personal statistics include 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, 38 doubles, and an impressive .310/.390/.646 slash line. He made history as the first player in MLB to record 50 steals and 50 home runs in the same season, finishing with a remarkable 59 stolen bases. His 1.036 OPS ranked him first among National League players and second overall in Major League Baseball, narrowly behind New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. Although Ohtani's postseason performance was not as dominant, he still contributed 10 RBIs over 16 appearances and delivered vital hits as the Dodgers triumphed over the Yankees in five games to win their eighth World Series title. Following a significant 10-year contract worth $700 million signed in free agency, Ohtani has exceeded expectations in his first season with the Dodgers, and he is expected to return to pitching during the 2025 season after recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum.