Los Angeles Angels two-way player Shohei Ohtani won the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award, becoming only the 16th ever recipient.
Ohtani is likely to win the American League MVP as well, beating out Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., who had an outstanding season of his own.
Nonetheless, mirroring Babe Ruth’s statistics for the first time in a century ought to be recognized, and Rob Manfred is opting into that idea before the Fall Classic.
Ohtani isn’t in the MLB Postseason, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a pair of the festivities.
Former MLB commissioner Bud Selig created the award back in the late 1990’s, and since then there have been 16 recipients.
What is the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award?
“This award is not given out every year so it’s very special,” Ohtani said Tuesday. “I’m not sure I even deserve it. But if Mr. Manfred is going to give it to me I will gladly accept.”
The following, per MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince, describes the award fairly well.
“The award aims to salute those who, either with a particular feat in a particular year or within a longer career arc, make a major impact on the sport of baseball. And in becoming the sport’s first two-way All-Star — starting for the American League as both a pitcher and a designated hitter — Ohtani certainly did that.”
Ohtani was able to live up to his expectations and then some. Before the season, Ohtani was tabbed a likely AL Cy Young candidate or MVP by some. Considering he’s coming off injury, the fact he avoided disappointment is surprising, to say the least.
He’s more than deserving of this award.