Dodgers' Ohtani wins third MVP award

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani has won his third Most Valuable Player (MVP) award after being unanimously voted the National League's star performer.

The 30-year-old won the American League MVP award in 2021 and 2023 during his time with the Los Angeles Angels.

The American League and National League make up Major League Baseball, with each league awarding a separate MVP award.

Ohtani, who joined the American League Dodgers in December 2023, is one of 12 players to win three or more MVP awards and the first player to win consecutive awards across the American and National Leagues.

He earned first-place votes from all 30 of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, beating New York Mets' Francisco Lindor to the prize.

"I wouldn't have been able to receive this award if it weren't for my team-mates," said Ohtani.

"I didn't go into the season trying to strive to get the MVP award. I was more focused on being one of the guys with the new team, with the Dodgers.

"I wanted to obviously embrace the fans as well and kind of let them know who I was, and that was my main focus heading into this season."

His performances helped the Dodgers to the 2024 World Series, their eighth championship and first since 2020.

During that run, Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs or more and steal 50 or more bases in a single season.

In the American League, New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge beat team-mate Juan Soto and Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr to the main prize.