Ohtani joins Bonds as only players to win 4 MVPs

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani added one more chapter to his legend Thursday by winning the NL MVP for a second straight year.

The latest victory puts Ohtani alongside seven-time winner Barry Bonds as the only players with at least four career MVP awards. Once again, he won in unanimous fashion, receiving all 30 first-place votes over fellow finalists Kyle Schwarber and Juan Soto. Ohtani's now won all four of his MVPs unanimously; no other player has ever won it unanimously more than once.

Ohtani won two AL MVPs with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021 and '23. Last year's NL trophy with the Dodgers made him just the second player to win an MVP in both leagues, joining Hall of Famer Frank Robinson. Ohtani and Bonds, who won four straight from 2001-04, are the only players to win at least three consecutive MVPs.

The 31-year-old made history yet again in 2025. As a hitter, he slashed .282/.392/.622 with 55 homers, 102 RBIs, 20 steals, 89 extra-base hits, 146 runs scored, and 109 walks over 727 plate appearances. Ohtani led the NL in slugging, OPS (1.014), OPS+ (179), and intentional walks (20) and topped the majors in total bases (380) and runs.

He's the fifth player ever to record 50-plus home runs and 145-plus runs scored in a season, joining Sammy Sosa, Jimmie Foxx, Hack Wilson, and Babe Ruth, who did it four times. Ohtani also became one of only six players to record consecutive 50-homer seasons.

Ohtani also made his return to the mound after not pitching in 2024 while recovering from elbow surgery. He posted a 2.87 ERA, 1.90 FIP, and 1.04 WHIP along with 62 strikeouts, nine walks, and three home runs allowed over 14 starts. His 11.9 K/9 rate was the best in the NL among starting pitchers with at least 40 innings.

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo and Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner finished fourth and fifth in voting, respectively. Paul Skenes, Corbin Carroll, Fernando Tatis Jr., Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Francisco Lindor rounded out the NL's top 10.