Ohtani among 3 finalists for Player of the Year by MLB peers

NHK -- Oct 19

In Major League Baseball, Japanese two-way star Ohtani Shohei of the Los Angeles Angels has been chosen as a finalist for Player of the Year in the 2023 Players Choice Awards.

The MLB Players' Association announced the three finalists for its top prize on Tuesday. The other two finalists are Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves and Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ohtani was named as an award finalist for the third straight year. He won the prize for the first time in 2021. If selected a second time, he will become the sixth player to win the honor more than once.

Ohtani was also chosen as a finalist for the association's American League Outstanding Player award, along with Yandy Diaz of the Tampa Bay Rays and Corey Seager of the Texas Rangers.

Another Japanese player, pitcher Senga Kodai of the New York Mets, is a finalist for the National League Outstanding Rookie award.

The winners will be announced on November 2. ...continue reading