“Greatest player on earth” – MLB fans DELIGHTED as $700 million man Shohei Ohtani wins American League Hank Aaron Award

Shohei Ohtani has now collected another personal accolade as he was named the American League Hank Aaron Award winner for the 2023 season.

“Greatest player on earth” – MLB fans DELIGHTED as $700 million man Shohei Ohtani wins American League Hank Aaron Award

Shohei Ohtani (Pic Credit: Imago)

The Major League Baseball (MLB) world is currently buzzing with the news regarding Shohei Ohtani. His move to the Los Angeles Dodgers has broken several records already. The Japanese star had an incredible season and was unanimously named the American League MVP. The awards keep on coming for him as he has now won the AL Hank Aaron Award.

Named after the late great Hank Aaron, this award is given to the best offensive player in the leagues. This year, Ohtani had another strong performance with the bat as he racked up 44 home runs with a .654 slugging percentage. He is now the first Japanese player to win this prestigious award.

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This award was originally created to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the “Hammerin Hank” breaking the home run record of Babe Ruth. The MLB Hall of Famer surpassed “The Bambino” in 1974 as he slammed his 715th home run. This is the reason this award is considered one of the prestigious ones in baseball as it signals the offensive capabilities of hitters.

Meanwhile, the National League Hank Aaron Award was given to Atlanta Braves‘ Ronald Acuna Jr. who had an outstanding personal season too. The slugger capped off an incredible individual season as he created the 40-70 club. (40 home runs and 70 stolen bases)

Fan reactions on social media to Shohei Ohtani’s latest achievement

There is no doubt that Shohei Ohtani is currently the most talked about person in the sporting world. After penning a massive $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he has left many comparing his deals to other sporting superstars. As his name continues to dominate this conversation he has added another accolade to his incredible career as he has now won the Hank Aaron Award.

This win comes after he was named the American League MVP and the Edgar Martinez Outstanding DH of the season award. These awards have once again showcased the amount of talent he possesses.

Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani (Pic Credit: AP)

Fans on social media have been delighted to see him being recognized with this award. He is now also the first player from Japan to win this honor, paving the path for upcoming Japanese stars. Social media users have since then lauded him for his efforts with one user writing, “Greatest player on the earth,” while sending his congratulations to Ohtani. Check out that and some more reactions from X below:

https://twitter.com/Martini_Shot_/status/1736539784821305536

All eyes are now set on Ohtani and how he will perform for the Dodgers next season. The pressure to deliver will surely be on his shoulders as the National League West side set their sights to capture the World Series title in 2024.

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