Shohei Ohtani, Bryce Harper named MLB MVPs

Bryce Harper and Shohei Ohtani were announced as the National League and American League MVPs, respectively, by Major League Baseball on Thursday night.

Harper, 29, won the award in 2015 and topped Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr. in voting in 2021 to become a two-time MVP. The Philadelphia Phillies right fielder led the NL in doubles with 42 and slugging at .615. After starting his career with the Washington Nationals, Harper signed a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies in 2019.

Ohtani, 27, was unanimously voted MVP, joining his Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout as the only two players to sweep voting in the AL in the last two decades. Ohtani earned AL Rookie of the Year honors in 2018 after signing a deal with the Angels in December 2017. 

In 2021, Ohtani started 23 games as a pitcher and finished with a 9-2 record and 3.18 ERA. He also played designated hitter for the Angels in 126 games and led the league in triples with eight. Ohtani finished third in home runs with 46, two home runs behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays, who finished second in AL MVP voting. Ohtani's the first full-time designated hitter to ever be named MVP.