Browsing: Shohei

When the Dodgers are on the field, Shohei Ohtani dominates the headlines with his base running, his slugging and his pitching. But off the field, his actions also resonate.

In a recent interview with Japanese media, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told a story of when the two-time World Series champion helped relief pitcher Gus Varlandâ€s mother get cancer treatment by making a “very, very big contribution.â€

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“Shohei does a lot of great things, but a lot of what he does is on the down low, quiet, so people donâ€t talk about it,†he said.

Varland made seven relief appearances with the Dodgers during the 2024 season — including pitching in the season-opening series in South Korea against the San Diego Padres — and posted a 4.50 earned run average in six innings of work before he was designated for assignment in July of that year.

Roberts said he ran into Varlandâ€s mother during the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays because his brother, Louis, pitched for them. Roberts said the mother told him she was cancer free.

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After spending his first six major league seasons with the Angels, Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers. In November, he won his fourth MVP award in five seasons, becoming the only player besides Barry Bonds to win it more than three times.

Ohtani helped the Dodgers win their second consecutive World Series title after hitting 55 homers with a batting average of .282 and an ERA of 2.87 in 2025.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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MLB great Shohei Ohtani has been piling up accolades ever since his MLB debut in 2018. The Los Angeles Angels-turned-Dodgers’ star’s achievements have been so exceptional, he’s catching up to golf great Tiger Woods in at least one area.

With a new AP award recognition this week, Ohtani tied a record held in part by Woods, and he did it by beating out current golf world-beater Scottie Scheffler.

Here’s what you should know.

Ohtani tops Scottie Scheffler for AP Male Athlete of the Year

In the 2025 MLB season, Ohtani won his fourth MVP award. It was the third-straight year he earned the MLB’s top honor, with the final two coming as Dodger.

In two years with the Dodgers, Ohtani has justified his mega contract, which gave him the highest AAV salary in professional sports, by winning back-to-back World Series titles.

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Still only 31, he’s already in the conversation with all-time greats from other sports, such as Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky and, of course, Woods.

On Tuesday, Ohtani won the 2025 Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year award. It was his fourth time receiving that honor, which ties the record for most wins.

Woods, Lebron James and Lance Armstrong are the only other sportsmen to have won the Male Athlete of the Year award four times in their careers.

According to the AP, Ohtani earned his second-straight Athlete of the Year award by receiving 29 of 47 votes from AP sports journalists.

One pro golfer also received votes on the ballot, though far fewer than the winner.

Scheffler, the No. 1-ranked player in the Official World Golf Ranking, earned two votes for his two major wins in 2025. That’s the same number of votes 2025 NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received.

Interestingly, while Ohtani, Woods, Armstrong and James have won the most Male Athlete of the Year awards, they do not the top the list when female athletes are included.

The distinction goes to another golfer, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, who won the award six times in her illustrious career.

PASADENA, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani is catching up with more legends.

The baseball superstar ends 2025 by winning The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the fourth time, tying Lance Armstrong, LeBron James and Tiger Woods for most among male honorees.

“Receiving this award multiple times is something truly special,” Ohtani said in Japanese in an exclusive interview with the AP.

Ohtani received 29 of 47 votes in balloting among sports journalists from the AP and its members after his two-way dominance culminated in a repeat World Series title for his Los Angeles Dodgers — delivering perhaps the greatest single-game individual performance in sports history along the way. He previously won the award in 2024, his first season with the Dodgers, and in 2023 and 2021, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.

The AP honor has been given out since 1931. Multisport standout Babe Didrikson Zaharias won six times over the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s, the most by a man or woman.

The ultracompetitive Ohtani’s latest win broke a tie with Michael Jordan, who along with Woods, he followed while growing up in Japan.

“Last year, I said I wanted to win this award again, and I will work hard so that I can win it again next year as well,” he said.

Swedish-American pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, who won his third consecutive world title and has set the world record 14 times, including four times in 2025, was second with five votes in balloting announced Tuesday. Carlos Alcaraz, the world’s top-ranked tennis player who won titles at the French and US Opens, was third with four.

The AP Female Athlete of the Year will be announced Wednesday.

Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani capped another championship year by winning The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for a fourth time, tying him with Lance Armstrong, LeBron James and Tiger Woods for most among male honorees. EPA

Ohtani has shown remarkable consistency since joining the Dodgers on a then-record $700 million, 10-year contract in December 2023. He won his fourth career Most Valuable Player award (second with the Dodgers) by unanimous vote, the first player in major league history to do so.

This year, he posted a 1.014 OPS and hit 55 home runs. Returning to the mound for the first time since 2023, he had a 2.87 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 47 innings over 14 starts.

Ohtani saved his best for the postseason.

In Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, he pitched six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and hit three home runs to earn MVP honors. He said it was his greatest game in a career full of incredible feats.

“If you think about it in terms of a single game, I’d say that’s probably true,” Ohtani said. “It was a crucial game in the postseason, and I personally feel I played quite well in that game.”

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Does he surprise himself?

“Well, yes, there are times when I feel that way about myself, and of course there are times when I think I’m not good enough,” Ohtani said, “so I suppose athletes experience both kinds of feelings.”

Ohtani showed he’s human in Game 7 of the World Series. He singled in the first inning and then took the mound on short rest, but he struggled with his command. He gave up a three-run homer to Toronto’s Bo Bichette along with five hits in 2â…“ innings.

But he and the Dodgers raised a second straight World Series trophy after outlasting the Blue Jays in the most scintillating Series in recent memory.

“Shohei obviously has the weight of the world on his shoulders as far as expectations, being probably the face of baseball, certainly when you’re talking about the world,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Game 7. “It’s just really special what he’s done. Just a great person and a great competitor.”

Ohtani’s presence has been transformative for MLB’s global reach. Game 7 of this World Series averaged 13.1 million viewers in Japan, the most watched World Series game on a single network there ever, and 51 million watched worldwide to make it the most viewed since Game 7 of the 1991 World Series.

How does Ohtani keep topping himself?

“I think the higher your goals are, the more you have to do, and the more you want to do,” Ohtani said. “If you’re satisfied with where you are now, I don’t think it’s possible to achieve your goals without putting in the effort. So, setting goals high is what I believe is most important.”

The Dodgers carefully managed Ohtani’s return to pitching this year by gradually increasing his workload after rehabbing from elbow surgery in September 2023. His innings were initially capped before he was allowed to make longer starts as he felt better.

“When it comes to feeling nervous, being on the mound definitely makes me more tense,” Ohtani said. “It’s a position where you can single-handedly ruin a game, and at the same time, it’s also a position where you can contribute to a win. So, in my mind, I feel that being a pitcher is truly a special role.”

At 31, Ohtani has undergone three major surgeries: two on his right elbow and another on his left shoulder. Regardless of the physical and mental wear and tear, he plans on remaining a two-way player his entire career.

“I think it’s best to keep doing it right up until the moment I retire,” Ohtani said.

Winning a third consecutive World Series championship is among Ohtani’s biggest goals in 2026.

“Staying healthy and appearing in every game without injury, that’s the smallest goal I have,” Ohtani said.

Ohtani became a father when his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, gave birth to their daughter in April. He carefully guards against revealing her name and any details about his home life. No word on how his beloved dog Decoy reacted to having a new sibling, either.

Ohtani’s American fans enjoy hearing him speak English on the rare occasions that he has done so publicly, including at both World Series celebrations. He understands most of the language, although he uses an interpreter in interviews.

“I think it would be best if I could speak in English, so even if it’s just small steps, I want to keep working at it,” Ohtani said. “Whether it’s with fans or in different situations, being able to speak directly in English might help bridge the gap between us.”

In the meantime, he’ll keep letting his bat and arm speak volumes.

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PASADENA, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani is catching up with more legends.

The baseball superstar ends 2025 by winning The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the fourth time, tying him with Lance Armstrong, LeBron James and Tiger Woods for most among male honorees.

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“Receiving this award multiple times is something truly special,†Ohtani said in Japanese in an exclusive interview with the AP.

Ohtani received 29 of 47 votes in balloting among sports journalists from the AP and its members after his two-way dominance culminated in a repeat World Series title for his Los Angeles Dodgers – delivering perhaps the greatest single-game individual performance in sports history along the way. He previously won the award in 2024, his first season with the Dodgers, and in 2023 and 2021, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.

The AP honor has been given out since 1931. Multisport standout Babe Didrikson Zaharias won six times over the 1930s, â€40s and â€50s, the most by a man or woman.

The ultra-competitive Ohtaniâ€s latest win broke a tie with Michael Jordan, who along with Woods, he followed while growing up in Japan.

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“Last year, I said I wanted to win this award again, and I will work hard so that I can win it again next year as well,†he said.

Swedish-American pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, who won his third consecutive world title and has set the world record 14 times, including four times in 2025, was second with five votes in balloting. Carlos Alcaraz, the worldâ€s top-ranked tennis player who won titles at the French and U.S. Opens, was third with four.

Ohtani returns to two-way supremacy

Ohtani has shown remarkable consistency since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers on a then-record 10-year, $700 million contract in December 2023.

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He won his fourth career Most Valuable Player award (second with the Dodgers) by unanimous vote, the first player in major league history to do so.

This year, he posted a 1.014 OPS and hit 55 home runs. Returning to the mound for the first time since 2023, he had a 2.87 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 47 innings over 14 starts.

Ohtani saved his best for the postseason.

In Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, he pitched six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and hit three home runs to earn MVP honors. He said it was his greatest game in a career full of incredible feats.

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“If you think about it in terms of a single game, Iâ€d say thatâ€s probably true,†he said. “It was a crucial game in the postseason, and I personally feel I played quite well in that game.â€

Does he surprise himself?

“Well, yes, there are times when I feel that way about myself, and of course there are times when I think Iâ€m not good enough,†he said, “so I suppose athletes experience both kinds of feelings.â€

Another year, another championship for Ohtani and the Dodgers

Ohtani showed heâ€s human in Game 7 of the World Series. He singled in the first inning and then took the mound on short rest, but he struggled with his command. He gave up a three-run homer to Torontoâ€s Bo Bichette along with five hits in 2 1/3 innings.

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But he and the Dodgers raised a second straight World Series trophy after outlasting the Blue Jays in the most scintillating Series in recent memory.

“Shohei obviously has the weight of the world on his shoulders as far as expectations, being probably the face of baseball, certainly when youâ€re talking about the world,†Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Game 7. “Itâ€s just really special what heâ€s done. Just a great person and a great competitor.â€

Ohtaniâ€s presence has been transformative for MLBâ€s global reach. Game 7 of this World Series averaged 13.1 million viewers in Japan, the most-watched World Series game on a single network there ever, and 51 million watched worldwide to make it the most-viewed since Game 7 of the 1991 World Series.

How does Ohtani keep topping himself?

“I think the higher your goals are, the more you have to do, and the more you want to do,†he said. “If youâ€re satisfied with where you are now, I donâ€t think itâ€s possible to achieve your goals without putting in the effort. So, setting goals high is what I believe is most important.â€

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The Dodgers carefully managed Ohtaniâ€s return to pitching this year by gradually increasing his workload after rehabbing from elbow surgery in September 2023. His innings were initially capped before he was allowed to make longer starts as he felt better.

“When it comes to feeling nervous, being on the mound definitely makes me more tense,†he said. “Itâ€s a position where you can single-handedly ruin a game, and at the same time, itâ€s also a position where you can contribute to a win. So, in my mind, I feel that being a pitcher is truly a special role.â€

At 31, Ohtani has undergone three major surgeries: two on his right elbow and another on his left shoulder. Regardless of the physical and mental wear and tear, he plans on remaining a two-way player his entire career.

“I think itâ€s best to keep doing it right up until the moment I retire,†he said.

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Ohtani plans to play for Japan in the World Baseball Classic in March.

“Iâ€m still not sure whether Iâ€ll be pitching,†he said. “Iâ€ve been given permission to play in the tournament, but as for how much and in what way, including on the batting side, thatâ€s something weâ€ll be discussing.â€

Winning a third consecutive

World Series championship is among Ohtaniâ€s biggest goals in 2026.

“Staying healthy and appearing in every game without injury, thatâ€s the smallest goal I have,†he said.

An exciting year off the field, too

Ohtani became a father for the first time when his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, gave birth to their daughter in April. He carefully guards against revealing her name and any details about his home life. No word on how his beloved dog Decoy reacted to having a new sibling, either.

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Ohtaniâ€s American fans enjoy hearing him speak English on the rare occasions heâ€s done so publicly, including at both World Series celebrations. He understands most of the language, although he uses an interpreter in interviews.

“I think it would be best if I could speak in English, so even if itâ€s just small steps, I want to keep working at it,†he said. “Whether itâ€s with fans or in different situations, being able to speak directly in English might help bridge the gap between us.â€

In the meantime, heâ€ll keep letting his bat and arm speak volumes.

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Shohei Ohtani will once again represent Team Japan in next yearâ€s World Baseball Classic.

Whether or not he pitches in the international tournament, however, remains unclear.

On Monday, Ohtani announced on Instagram he is planning to participate in the WBC for the second time in his career.

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In the 2023 WBC, he won tournament MVP with a .435 batting average and 1.86 pitching ERA, helping Japan to that yearâ€s title. He punctuated the event with his memorable strikeout of Mike Trout for the final out in the championship game.

“Iâ€m happy to play again representing Japan,†Ohtani wrote in Japanese on Monday.

The question now is whether Ohtani will pitch in the event, which takes place in March, just five months removed from his heavy postseason workload during the Dodgers†run to a second-consecutive World Series title.

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At this point, no decision on that front has seemingly been made.

After spending the first half of the 2025 season limited only to designated hitting duties while completing his recovery from a 2023 Tommy John procedure, the 31-year-old Ohtani resumed his two-way role over the second half, making 14 pitching starts for the Dodgers from June to September while increasing his workload one inning at a time.

By the postseason, he was fully built up for full-length starts, and went on to throw 20⅓ innings over four playoff outings — including a 2⅓ inning appearance on shortened three days†rest in Game 7 of the World Series.

Oftentimes, pitchers who are that heavily taxed during a deep playoff run will consider sitting out a WBC the following year because of the early ramp-up required to throw in the tournament takes place during spring training.

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However, the WBC is of supreme importance in the Japanese baseball community; more significant even than the World Series. And Ohtani is the face of the countyâ€s iconic Samurai Japan national team, which will be trying to win its fourth WBC title.

Shohei Ohtani celebrates with his teammates after striking out Mike Trout to secure Japan’s World Baseball Classic championship win over the United States in 2023. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press)

Ohtani is expected to hit in the event, coming off a career-high 55-homer season that helped him earn a third-consecutive MVP Award and the fourth of his MLB career.

But there remains no indication about whether he will pitch, nor if such a decision has been made between him and the Dodgers (who canâ€t block Ohtani from participating in the event, but could request he either not pitch or follow strict usage rules given he missed the first half of last season on the mound).

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It is unlikely that decision will be made until closer to the tournament.

The Dodgers†two other Japanese pitchers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, face a similar dynamic leading into next yearâ€s WBC.

Yamamoto made 30 starts in the 2025 regular season, the most of his MLB or Japanese career, then threw 37⅓ more innings in six outings during the playoffs — including his heroic back-to-back victories in Games 6 and 7 of the World Series.

Sasaki missed most of his rookie MLB season with a shoulder injury, but returned late in the year and became the teamâ€s de facto closer in the playoffs. Next year, he is slated to return to the starting rotation.

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Like Ohtani, they are both key cogs in the Dodgers†2026 pitching plans, which, as manager Dave Roberts alluded to during a promotional tour in Japan last week, could make the WBC something of a potential complication.

“Weâ€ll support them,†Roberts told the Japanese media. “But I do think that the pitching, itâ€s a lot on the body, the arm. The rest will be beneficial for next year, for our season. But we understand how important the WBC is for these individual players and for the country of Japan.â€

The Dodgers could choose to block Sasakiâ€s participation in the WBC, since he spent much of last year on the 60-day injured list, but have not yet given any indication about whether they would do so.

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The club canâ€t do the same with Yamamoto, but could still try advocating for him to be used more conservatively in the tournament coming off his especially burdensome October performance.

For now, at least, what is known is that Ohtani will participate in some capacity.

But whether he, or his Japanese Dodgers teammates, will pitch in the tournament will remain a subplot as the offseason progresses.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Talk about easing the blow. The Canadian father-son duo that secured not one, but both home run balls that doomed the Toronto Blue Jays team they rooted for in Game 7 of the World Series turned the evidence into some serious U.S. currency Saturday night.

Dodgers fans will never forget those baseballs hit by Miguel Rojas in the ninth inning and Will Smith in the 11th flying over the left-field wall and into the first row of seats beyond the Blue Jays’ bullpen.

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John and Matthew Bains — sitting side-by-side — will never forget the balls ending up in their hands. John, 61, caught Rojas’ 387-foot home run in his glove on the fly. Two innings later, Matthew, seated next to his dad, saw Smith’s blast land in the bullpen and bounce directly into his hands.

Novices they were not. John has been a Blue Jays fan since the team’s inception in 1977 and purposely sits where he does for proximity to home runs. In fact, he caught one during the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees a few weeks earlier.

Both men brought baseballs into the stadium that they threw back onto the field, giving the Blue Jays faithful the impression the Bains did the honorable thing when, in fact, they did the smart thing for their bank accounts.

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On Saturday night, the balls were sold at auction. Smith’s homer, which provided the Dodgers with the winning run, sold for $168,000 while Rojas’ blast that sent the game into extra innings fetched $156,000.

A third unforgettable Dodgers home run ball from the 2025 postseason eclipsed the Game 7 balls. The second of Shohei Ohtani’s three home runs against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series sold for $270,000 in the same SCP Auction.

It was the longest of his three, landing on the Dodger Stadium right-field roof 469 feet from home plate. And it was a key element in what is considered perhaps the greatest performance in baseball history. Ohtani struck out 10 in six innings on the mound in addition to his offensive exploits, sending the Dodgers to the World Series.

Carlo Mendoza’s story of how he ended up with Ohtani’s ball is no less head-shaking than that of the Bains boys. The 26-year-old Los Angeles man said he was eating nachos in a food court behind the right-field pavilion and saw Ohtani hit the home run on a television monitor. He heard the ball hit the roof, dashed toward the sound and retrieved the ball from under a bush.

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All three balls were authenticated by SCP Auctions through notarized affidavits and lie detector tests. SCP owner David Kohler said Mendoza was so apprehensive about handing over the ball that he insisted meeting Kohler in the parking lot of the Long Beach Police Dept.

“We authenticated through polygraph and eyewitnesses due diligence,” Kohler said. “From the time we announced we had these baseballs until now, no one else has come forward and said they have the balls. There’s been no contention.”

The baseballs got top billing in the wide-ranging auction that included 579 items, but a Lou Gehrig game-worn jersey sold for well more than the three balls combined. The Hall of Fame Yankee first baseman hit his last World Series home run in 1937 wearing the jersey, for which a collector paid more than $2.5 million.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Stolen base are one of the most exciting plays in baseball. The anticipation of a speedster reaching first, the murmur of a crowd knowing they’re going to run, and the bang-bang play at second to try and catch them is intoxicating.

Sadly, theyâ€d faded over the years until rule changes after the 2022 season brought them back in a big way.

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This was another banner year for base stealers and Iâ€m going to tell you all about who ran wild. Also, weâ€re going to walk through some disappointing base stealers – be it due to inefficiency or lack of desire – plus some interesting trends to watch league-wide.

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Stay up to date with the MLB free agent market this offseason, including player signings, contract details, and team fits as the 2025-26 Hot Stove heats up.

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2025 MLB Stolen Base Leaders

Here is the stolen base leaderboard from the regular season.

Player

SB

CS

José Caballero

49

11

José Ramírez

44

7

Chandler Simpson

44

12

Juan Soto

38

4

Bobby Witt Jr.

38

9

Oneil Cruz

38

5

Elly De La Cruz

37

8

Trea Turner

36

7

Pete Crow-Armstrong

35

8

Victor Scott II

34

4

A surprising league-leader, José Caballero took the stolen base crown despite having just 370 plate appearances. Only Elly De La Cruz stole more than his 93 bases over the past two seasons, and Caballero got there with 542 fewer PA. When he plays, he will run.

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How does José Ramírez keep doing it? He just completed his second straight 40-steal season. These were the first times he reached that milestone in his career and he waited until turning 31 to do so. He is a marvel.

Chandler Simpson was tied for second-most steals despite being called up three weeks into the season and then getting sent down again for most of June. He was also caught more than anyone in the league. His defense and offense are both questionable traits, so itâ€s anyoneâ€s guess as to if heâ€ll go into next season as a starter in Tampa Bay.

Next, hereâ€s the stolen base leaderboard for just the second-half.

Player

SB

CS

Juan Soto

27

3

Jazz Chisholm Jr.

21

4

Corbin Carroll

21

2

Gunnar Henderson

20

2

Josh Naylor

19

0

Jose Caballero

18

4

Chandler Simpson

18

6

Francisco Lindor

16

4

Trevor Story

15

1

Jose Ramirez

15

2

Randy Arozarena

15

4

Agustín Ramírez

15

1

Juan Soto, man. For him to have stolen 27 bases in 64 games after the All-Star break and wind up with the fourth-most in the league was astounding.

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One of the key questions heading into next season is how many bags to expect as an encore. Soto gave most of the credit for this newfound ability to now former Mets†first base coach Antoan Richardson, who will have that same role with the Braves this coming season.

Can Soto hold the skills Richardson helped him develop? Should we expect some of the Braves players to run more? Both could wind up being true or untrue and it will be a hot-button topic during draft season.

Corbin Carroll and Gunnar Henderson each stole far more bases in the second half compared to the first when they were dealing with injuries.

Josh Naylor stole 26 consecutive bases successfully from May onward and 19 of which came after being traded to the Mariners in late July. He is still quite slow, so thereâ€s a question as to whether this will sustain next season despite his return to Seattle.

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Agustín Ramírez has a chance to be a true unicorn with 30-30 potential from the catcher position. He also could find himself on the razorâ€s edge of everyday playing time given his atrocious defense behind the plate and poor on-base skills.

Lastly, hereâ€s a list of players who either ran far less than weâ€d have hoped or were inefficient when doing so.

Player

SB

CS

Jonathan India

0

4

Jackson Merrill

1

2

Bryan Reynolds

3

2

Lars Nootbaar

4

5

Bo Bichette

4

3

Ernie Clement

6

5

Daylen Lile

8

6

Masyn Winn

9

5

Jose Altuve

10

6

Jacob Young

15

11

Jackson Holliday

17

11

Anthony Volpe

18

8

Shohei Ohtani

20

6

Brice Turang

24

8

Shohei Ohtani shouldnâ€t be considered over Aaron Judge for the first overall pick in any weekly set line-up leagues if heâ€s a 20-steal player like heâ€s been most of his career compared to the 56 he swiped in 2024 when he wasnâ€t pitching.

Jackson Merrill got a concussion on a stolen base attempt in June and did run again for the rest of the season. There could be sneaky upside on his projections heading into next season if he chooses to run again.

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Masyn Winn offers next to no fantasy value if he canâ€t hit and doesnâ€t run, like last season.

Similarly, Jackson Holliday and Anthony Volpe couple poor seasons at the plate with woeful efficiency on the base paths. They need to take steps forward in some areas to be considered viable options heading into 2026.

Itâ€s funny that Brice Turangâ€s steals fell by more than 50% and he was still the top second baseman in most leagues. He could approach first round value if he pairs this newfound 20-homer power with the 50 bases he stole in 2024. Thereâ€s also a chance heâ€s a colossal bust if he reverts to the slap hitter he was last season with this yearâ€s low stolen base total.

2025 League Wide Stolen Base Trends

This was the third season of MLBâ€s new rules meant to put stolen bases back into the game and itâ€s clear that theyâ€ve done that. Yet, it seems pitchers and catchers are beginning to better understand this new frontier.

Year

SB

CS

CS%

SBA

% Change

2025

3440

989

22.3%

4429

-3.3%

2024

3617

961

21.0%

4578

+4.8%

2023

3503

866

19.8%

4369

+32.5%

2022

2486

811

24.6%

3297

N/A

Obviously, stolen bases boomed in 2023 when the new rules were implemented. Runners were successful far more often and in turn, that led to far more stolen bases being attempted. From the leagueâ€s perspective, this was both the hope and the goal.

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Realizing the greater chance of success, teams pushed the envelope even further the following season. They were caught more often though. Itâ€s possible that teams got a little cocky in deciding who should get the green light.

Then, this season, runners were caught more often and fewer stolen bases were attempted. While the difference is relatively small, that could signify a slight strategic shift with another full season of data.

Part of that may be the defense catching up. Jerry Weinstein is a baseball lifer whoâ€s been coaching in some capacity since 1966. For reference, thatâ€s 30 years before I was born. His current role is with the Cubs as a Special Assistant to the General Manager and his bio reads “professional baseball coach.â€

He recently shared some interesting data from the legendary Tom Tango about throwing accuracy data when catching a would-be base stealer.

This tells us that catchers are now intending to throw more towards the first base side of second for a tag higher up on the base stealer’s body rather than the old school adage of throwing directly to the base so the runner slides into it.

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Part of this is the increased rate of head-first slides and ability of a runner to dodge a tag being placed directly next to the bag. Also, this could be a subtle strategic shift as stolen bases became easier to come by and teams try to fight back.

Correlation doesnâ€t lead to causation, but itâ€s interesting to note and feels like more and more tags at second base are being made higher up on runners†bodies when watching games. Thatâ€s why baseball is the best, thereâ€s always a solution to a problem. It will be fun to track these trends heading into the 2026 season.

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That Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani keep winning MVP Awards — 2 straight for Judge and 3 in a row for Ohtani, and seven of the 10 handed out since 2021 — is pretty amazing. Itâ€s a reminder that we are watching two of the greatest players in baseball history right now. Weâ€re all incredibly fortunate.

But it can be a bit of a bummer that so many other great players keep getting shut out. These are players who have put up MVP-caliber seasons that have the misfortune of being just shy of the level of Judge and Ohtani. So many players probably should have won an MVP by now, but they canâ€t break through because of what Judge and Ohtani continue to do.

Eventually — one would think? — someone will end their stranglehold. Who will that player (or players) be? Here are five candidates from each league to topple Judge and/or Ohtani from their thrones in 2026. (Players are listed in alphabetical order.)

Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics

You might think this is too early and too soon, but did you see what this guy did in 2025? In only 117 games, Kurtz had 36 homers and put up slash numbers that rivaled Judgeâ€s in every way. At the age of 22, Judge played the whole season at Single-A and High-A; Kurtz put up a 1.002 OPS in the big leagues and, oh yeah, had a game in which he racked up six hits and four homers. Why canâ€t this kid get better? And it already only takes him getting a little bit better to get to where Judge is right now.

Why canâ€t he do it again? We might not have the thrill of discovery that Raleigh gave us this season — who knew a switch-hitter could crush 60 homers? Who knew a catcher could do it? — but itâ€s not like he tailed off as the season went along. Raleigh remains one of the best hitters in baseball, while also playing the most demanding defensive position, and doing it well. Maybe heâ€ll have a little bit better batted-ball luck and get his batting average up enough that 60 homers feels even more impressive. Raleigh gave Judge as close a race as heâ€s had for any of his MVP-winning seasons. And he might just keep getting better.

José Ramírez, 3B, Guardians

One of these years, right? J-Ram finished third in MVP voting this year, the eighth time he has finished in the top 10 in MVP voting. The closest he ever came was second place behind José Abreu in 2020, a year when, in retrospect, Ramírez probably should have won. At 33, you might think Ramírez is running out of time, but he is still younger than Judge. It might help if the Guardians improved the lineup around him; whether or not you care about RBIs, 85 is a pretty low number for an MVP candidate.

Julio Rodríguez, CF, Mariners

He has been around long enough now that you forget how young he is, but he is only two years older than Kurtz. Rodríguez still hasnâ€t quite matched the numbers he put up during his rookie season, but 2025 was a step forward from a disappointing ‘24. He went on another of his second-half runs, further establishing himself as one of the streakiest players in baseball. One of these years, his streak will last all season.

Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals

Hereâ€s a guy who absolutely would have won an MVP Award if it werenâ€t for Judge. Witt’s 2024 season was a classic MVP season that just didn’t quite measure up to the Yankees slugger. Witt wasnâ€t quite as good in 2025, but he was still a Gold Glove Award-winning shortstop who put up his fourth consecutive 20-20 season. Heâ€s another guy who could use some more lineup support, but hitting for more home run power wouldnâ€t hurt, either. Witt led the Majors with 47 doubles this season, and as he gets older, some of those will convert into homers. Itâ€s only a matter of time until Witt wins an MVP Award, and probably more than one.

Corbin Carroll, RF, Diamondbacks

Carroll was a revelation in his Rookie of the Year season two years ago, but while he was still good as a sophomore, he didn’t quite match those initial numbers in 2024. He rebounded in ’25, leading the NL in triples again with 17 while adding even more power, launching a career-high 31 homers. He still steals bases with impunity, and all he really needs now is just a little more plate discipline: His strikeouts went up last season, and his walks went down. But heâ€s just about six months older than Rodríguez, having turned 25 in August. Carroll, too, is just getting started.

Elly De La Cruz, SS, Reds

You know itâ€s coming. All you have to do is look at De La Cruz, his incredible physical gifts and the talent wafting off him, and see an MVP Award — maybe multiple — in his future. He just needs to get everything aligned. He still strikes out way too often, he doesnâ€t walk enough, and even his power and steals were down a little bit in 2025. He also led the NL in errors for the second season in a row, so thereâ€s plenty to work on. But among players on this list, only Kurtz is younger than De La Cruz, who wonâ€t turn 24 until January. Heâ€s going to put it together someday, and soon. When he does? Look out.

It has been 11 years since a pitcher — Clayton Kershaw in 2014 — won an MVP Award, and it seems even more difficult to pull it off nowadays. If thereâ€s one pitcher in baseball capable of putting together a Bob-Gibson-in-1968 season, it has to be Skenes, right? Remember: After 55 career starts, Skenes’ ERA is under 2.00. Thatâ€s incredible, and he seems to get stronger as the season goes along. He might soon have a season that simply cannot be denied.

Yep, he still hasnâ€t won one! Heâ€s eight seasons into a potential Hall of Fame career, with a lifetime WAR that has already surpassed Jose Canseco, Don Mattingly and Darryl Strawberry, and he has finished in the top 10 in voting six times, but Soto has yet to get over the top. It doesnâ€t make a difference what league heâ€s in; Judge got him in the AL last season, and Ohtani got him in the NL this time. Can you imagine if Soto somehow doesnâ€t win an MVP? How will we possibly explain that in 20 years? Hereâ€s guessing we wonâ€t have to.

Fernando Tatis Jr., RF, Padres

All those troubles seem to be in the rearview mirror. Tatis still hasnâ€t quite matched his pre-suspension numbers, but heâ€s getting closer, and heâ€s now the unquestioned leader of a team that comes this close to breaking through but never quite gets there. That he has moved positions with no problem — he won the NL Platinum Glove Award in 2025 — has helped him immeasurably: Tatis is now seen as a gamer, exactly the kind of guy who helps you win. He has been on the cusp of a 30-30 season most of his career, but he’s never quite gotten there. Maybe heâ€ll skip it entirely and just go straight to 40-40.

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Another year, another unanimous MVP award for Shohei Ohtani. Baseballâ€s unicorn added another major accolade to his already crowded mantel, winning his fourth MVP award Thursday. Ohtani continues his reign as the best player on the planet with the latest MVP honors, but this one puts him in a different conversation.

Barry Bonds has always stood alone when it comes to MVPs. MLBâ€s all-time home run leader holds the record with seven MVP trophies and was the only player in history with more than three. Those days are no more as Ohtani notched his fourth, and is well on his way to doing what many believed impossible — catching Bonds.

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When Bonds was in his prime, it was a challenge to pry the award away from him. And as the feared slugger was hitting well over. 300 every season with over 40 homers, stolen bases and Gold Glove defense, you could see why. But unlike Bonds, Ohtani has a skill set that makes him one of a kind, and makes his quest to catch Bonds†seven MVPs more probable than any player in history. Not only is he one of the two most feared hitters in baseball, heâ€s also an ace on the mound, giving him a huge edge over other MVP candidates every season.

(Dillon Minshall/Yahoo Sports)

This past season, the Dodgers†$700 million man hit .282 with a career-high 55 home runs and an NL-leading 1.014 OPS. An offensive season like that would usually launch a player into being a frontrunner for MVP,  but itâ€s only half the résumé for Ohtani. He made his much-anticipated return to the mound in 2025 after his second UCL surgery and showed that heâ€s not only one of the gameâ€s best hitters, but one of its best pitchers too.

[Get more Dodgers news: L.A. team feed]

Ohtani returned to the mound, going 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA in 14 starts. While many of his outings were abbreviated as L.A. worked him back into its rotation, it didnâ€t take long for him to look like an ace again and become another weapon on the teamâ€s starting staff.

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Now that Ohtani is well over a year removed from elbow surgery and has a full offseason without rehab to prepare for 2026, itâ€s not foolish to think he could hit another level as a pitcher over a full season.

Letâ€s be very clear: When Ohtani has a normal year for him, he will win MVP.

The one thing youâ€d worry about that could prevent Ohtani from catching Bonds outside of injury would be fatigue. But the BBWAA writers who vote haven’t let Ohtaniâ€s greatness work against him. Not only did he receive all 30 first-place votes in this year‘s NL MVP balloting, heâ€s won unanimously all four times heâ€s taken home the award.

Ohtani, the AL MVP winner in 2023, is the first to win three consecutive MVPs since Bonds won four straight with the San Francisco Giants from 2001-04. The Dodgers†superstar is also the first back-to-back winner in the National League since Albert Pujols did it in 2008-09 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

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For some time now, Ohtani has been firmly entrenched as the worldâ€s best player and after another remarkable season, the Dodgers†two-way superstar is adding to an already mind-blowing legacy. In two years since signing his 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers, Ohtani has won two league MVPs and two World Series championships. The five-time All-Star also has three Silver Slugger Awards and the 2018 AL Rookie of the year on his résumé with plenty of hardware before he hangs it up.

When itâ€s all said and done, Ohtani may not only be the best player ever, but also one of the most decorated.

Ohtaniâ€s excellence shouldnâ€t be taken for granted. When he came to the States from Japan, many believed his two-way ability was a gimmick that wouldnâ€t last. Now sitting on four MVPs and finally winning championships, Ohtani is better than anybody could have ever envisioned or imagined.

As Ohtani enters his prime already more than halfway to Bonds†seven MVPs, the chase is not only on, but well within reach.

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The 2025 All-MLB teams were revealed Thursday, honoring the best and second-best players at their positions regardless of league.

Introduced in 2019, the All-MLB teams are intended to recognize the best players at each position. Unlike All-Star Game recognitions, which only apply to the first half of a season, these recognize accomplishments from the entire regular season.

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There were some highlights, though. Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, named MVPs of their respective leagues for the second-straight year, unsurprisingly made the first team. So did Cal Raleigh, MVP runner-up in the AL, as well as stars like Bobby Witt Jr., Juan Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The first-team rotation was headlined by Cy Young Award winners Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes, as well as World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Kyle Schwarber, runner-up for NL MVP, had to settle for second team by virtue of playing the same position as Ohtani. He was joined by other major pending free agents in Cody Bellinger, Bo Bichette and Edwin Díaz, plus AL Rookie of the Year winner Nick Kurtz.

Here’s the full list of winners.

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All-MLB first team

• C: Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners

• 1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays

• 2B: Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks

• 3B: Jose Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians

• SS: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals

• OF: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

• OF: Juan Soto, New York Mets

• OF: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners

• DH: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

• SP: Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers

• SP: Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates

• SP: Garret Crochet, Boston Red Sox

• SP: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers

• SP: Max Fried, New York Yankees

• RP: Aroldis Chapman, Boston Red Sox

• RP: Jhoan Duran, Philadelphia Phillies/Minnesota Twins

All-MLB second team

• C: Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers

• 1B: Nick Kurtz, Athletics

• 2B: Brice Turang, Milwaukee Brewers

• 3B: Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays

• SS: Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays

• OF: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs

• OF: Cody Bellinger, New York Yankees

• OF: Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks

• DH: Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies

• SP: Hunter Brown, Houston Astros

• SP: Bryan Woo, Seattle Mariners

• SP: Cristopher Sánchez, Philadelphia Phillies

• SP: Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies

• SP: Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers

• RP: Edwin Díaz, New York Mets

• RP: Andres Muñoz, Seattle Mariners

The teams were announced at the 2025 MLB Awards, hosted by comedian Roy Wood Jr. and Dodgers star Mookie Betts, who earned first-team honors last year. Several more awards were also announced.

• AL Hank Aaron Award for best hitter: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

• NL Hank Aaron Award for best hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

• Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year: Aroldis Chapman, Boston Red Sox

• Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year: Edwin Díaz, New York Mets

• AL Comeback Player of the Year: Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves

• NL Comeback Player of the Year: Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers

• Edgar Martínez Award for best designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

• Executive of the Year: Matt Arnold, Milwaukee Brewers

In conclusion, Ohtani won his fourth MVP award, second World Series ring, first NLCS MVP award, sixth All-MLB first team nod, fifth All-Star nod, fourth Silver Slugger, third Hank Aaron Award and fifth Edgar Martínez Award this year.

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