Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani won the National League Silver Slugger Award for 2024. The winners were announced on MLB Network Tuesday night. This award is given to the top offensive player at each position in each league and is voted on by Major League Baseball’s managers and coaches. Although nothing was a sure thing before the announcement, this news didn’t shock anyone due to Ohtani’s historic 50-50 season.
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Shohei Ohtani Wins 2024 NL Silver Slugger Award as DH
Third Time’s a Charm
This is the third time Ohtani has won the hardware. He also won it in 2021 and 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels.
The Presumable MVP
This award is just the start of the accolades that could come for the 2024 World Series Champion. He is also a finalist for the National League Most Valuable Player Award, along with New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte. The only player in history to achieve 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in one season carried the Dodgers through the last few weeks of the regular season and into the postseason, having a batting average of nearly .700 with runners in scoring position before cooling off in the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets.
Injured in the World Series
The Japanese superstar went just 2-for-15 in the World Series against the New York Yankees. He injured himself sliding into second base in the eighth inning of Game Two, dislocating his shoulder. Ohtani was largely ineffective for the rest of the Series.
Under the Knife
It was revealed that the award-winning DH recently underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum and reset his shoulder. Los Angeles is confident that he will be ready for Spring Training in 2025. However, it is unclear whether or not he will be in the starting rotation at the start of the season.
