Major League Baseball announced today that two-way star Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels has been voted the winner of the 2023 Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.  Ohtani is the second player ever to win the ODH award in three consecutive years, joining Hall of Famer David Ortiz, who won five consecutive times from 2003-2007.

Shohei posted a slash line of .304/.412/.654 with 102 runs scored, 151 hits, 26 doubles, eight triples, 44 home runs, 95 RBI and 20 stolen bases across 135 games as a designated hitter for the Angels.  Among qualified designated hitters with 100 at-bats, Ohtani ranked first in hits, runs, total bases (325), triples, home runs, walks (91), stolen bases and slugging.

Ohtani claimed his second career American League Most Valuable Player Award and became the first player in Baseball history to win the MVP Award unanimously more than once, after previously winning the 2021 AL MVP Award in unanimous fashion. The two-way star paced the American League with 44 home runs, joining Troy Glaus (47 HR in 2000) as the only Angels players to finish a season as the American League home run leader. The Oshu, Japan native’s 171 career homers to date rank second among all Japanese-born Major League players behind only Hideki Matsui (175). The 29-year-old compiled the second-longest hitting streak of his career from June 3^rd-18^th, batting .446 with a 1.071 OPS over the 15-game stretch. The left-handed-hitter is one of 11 players to win the award multiple times and is one of four players with at least three career awards joining: Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox, who won eight times; the eponymous Martinez of the Seattle Mariners, who won five times; and Hal McRae of the Kansas City Royals, who won three times. On the mound this season, Ohtani went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts for the Angels. He tossed his first career shutout on July 27^th at Detroit.

Marcell Ozuna of the Atlanta Braves finished second in voting after batting .278 with 40 home runs, 100 RBI, 29 doubles, 84 runs scored, a .567 slugging percentage and a .351 on-base percentage in 142 games as a designated hitter.  Other players receiving votes included Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros (.284, 19 HR, 57 RBI, 51 R, 18 2B); Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies (.297, 11 HR, 45 RBI, 57 R, 23 2B); and J.D. Martinez of the Los Angeles Dodgers (.272, 33 HR, 102 RBI, 61 R, 27 2B).

Now in its 50^th season, the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award was renamed by Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig in a September 2004 ceremony in Seattle in honor of the retiring Martinez.  Ballots are cast by club beat writers, broadcasters and public relations departments with nominees including all players with a minimum of 100 at-bats as a designated hitter.

Winners Include:

1973 – Orlando Cepeda (Boston)

1974 – Tommy Davis (Baltimore)

1975 – Willie Horton (Detroit)

1976 – Hal McRae (Kansas City)

1977 – Jim Rice (Boston)

1978 – Rusty Staub (Detroit)

1979 – Willie Horton (Seattle)

1980 – Hal McRae (Kansas City)

1981 – Greg Luzinski (Chicago)

1982 – Hal McRae (Kansas City)

1983 – Greg Luzinski (Chicago)

1984 – Dave Kingman (Oakland)

1985 – Don Baylor (New York – AL)

1986 – Don Baylor (Boston)

1987 – Harold Baines (Chicago)

1988 – Harold Baines (Chicago)

1989 – Dave Parker (Oakland)

1990 – Dave Parker (Milwaukee)

1991 – Chili Davis (Minnesota)

1992 – Dave Winfield (Toronto)

1993 – Paul Molitor (Toronto)

1994 – Not awarded

1995 – Edgar Martinez (Seattle)

1996 – Paul Molitor (Minnesota)

1997 – Edgar Martinez (Seattle)

1998 – Edgar Martinez (Seattle)

1999 – Rafael Palmeiro (Texas)

2000 – Edgar Martinez (Seattle)

2001 – Edgar Martinez (Seattle)

2002 – Ellis Burks (Cleveland)

2003 – David Ortiz (Boston)

2004 – David Ortiz (Boston)

2005 – David Ortiz (Boston)

2006 – David Ortiz (Boston)

2007 – David Ortiz (Boston)

2008 – Aubrey Huff (Baltimore)

2009 – Adam Lind (Toronto)

2010 – Vladimir Guerrero (Texas)

2011 – David Ortiz (Boston)

2012 – Billy Butler (Kansas City)

2013 – David Ortiz (Boston)

2014 – Victor Martinez (Detroit)

2015 – Kendrys Morales (Kansas City)

2016 – David Ortiz (Boston)

2017 – Nelson Cruz (Seattle)

2018 – Khris Davis (Oakland)

2019 – Nelson Cruz (Minnesota)

2020 – Marcell Ozuna (Atlanta)

2021 – Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles – AL)

2022 – Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles – AL)

2023 – Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles – AL)