Shohei Ohtani’s current slump and nagging injuries are the loudest part of his story right now, but they don’t erase what he did over the full season.
That’s the big picture behind Wednesday’s MLB Players Association announcement: Ohtani was voted into the top three for two MLB Players Choice Awards by his peers, landing among the finalists for major league Player of the Year and National League Outstanding Player.
For Player of the Year, Ohtani will be joined by Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Álvarez and Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. In the NL Outstanding Player race, the other finalists are Armstrong and Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.
Ohtani’s numbers at the plate still stack up like an elite season. He hit .275/.377/.512 with a 139 wRC+, 30 home runs, 81 walks, 89 runs scored and 81 RBI in 135 games. Among National League hitters, he finished third in OPS, fifth in slugging percentage, and sixth in on-base percentage and wRC+.
And he wasn’t done there. In 14 pitching starts, Ohtani posted a 1.79 ERA and 2.73 xERA, with 95 strikeouts and 26 walks across 85 2/3 innings. When his work at the plate and on the mound are combined, his 6.6 FanGraphs WAR was tied with Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski for second in the NL and tied for fourth in the majors.
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Ohtani. He has won the Player of the Year Award once from his fellow players, taking it in 2021 with the Angels.
He’s also captured three Outstanding Player Awards in his league - in 2021 and 2023 with the Angels, and again in 2024 with the Dodgers. For the last six seasons, he’s finished in the top three for both awards.
The winners of the 2026 MLB Players Choice Awards will be announced during the week of October 26.
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