Shohei Ohtani Wins 2025 NL Hank Aaron Award

On the same day he was named the unanimous winner of the 2025 National League Award and also received the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, Shohei Ohtani was additionally announced as the recipient of the Hank Aaron Award in the NL.

Aaron Judge, who won the American League MVP, followed in Ohtani’s path by also taking home the Hank Aaron Award.

The Hank Aaron Award is MLB’s annual honor that recognizes the most outstanding regular season offensive performer in each league. A committee of MLB.com journalists reviewed the top offensive statistics, accomplishments and performances from the regular season to determine 10 finalists in each league.

MLB legends and past recipients of the award comprised a renowned panel that cast votes for their choices for the honor. Fans also were part of determining the winners by casting votes.

The Hank Aaron Award was introduced in 1999 to honor the 25th Anniversary of his breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record. At that time it the first major award introduced by Major League Baseball in more than 25 years.

Ohtani hit .282/.392/.622 with 25 doubles, nine triples, 55 home runs, 146 runs scored, 102 RBI and a 172 wRC+ over 158 games in his second season with the Dodgers. His 1.014 on-base plus slugging percentage was second in MLB to Judge.

Among other accolades, Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to hit exactly 55 home runs in a season. Ohtani additionally broke the Dodgers’ franchise home run record by surpassing the 54 he hit last season.

Shohei Ohtani’s history with Hank Aaron Award

Ohtani has now won the Hank Aaron Award three consecutive seasons, with the stretch dating back to his final year with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023.

With that, Ohtani joined Alex Rodriguez (2001-2003) as the only players in MLB history with three straight honors. Ohtani is one of four players to win the award a minimum of three times, joining Rodriguez (2001-2003, 2007), Barry Bonds (2001-2002, 2004) and Judge (2022, 2024-2025).

Pete Alonso (New York Mets), Corbin Carroll (Arizona Diamondbacks), Geraldo Perdomo (Diamondbacks), Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia Phillies), Juan Soto (New York Mets), Fernando Tatis Jr. (San Diego Padres), Kyle Tucker (Chicago Cubs), Trea Turner (Phillies) and Christian Yelich (Milwaukee Brewers) were finalists for the 2025 NL Hank Aaron Award.