Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani has been named a finalist for the 2023 Hank Aaron Award in the American League. The Hank Aaron Award is given to the best overall offensive player in each league, and Ohtani is one of nine finalists in the AL.
Ohtani was a finalist for the award in 2021 when he was unanimously named the AL Most Valuable Player, but Toronto Blue Jays star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. took home the honors that season alongside Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League.
The Hank Aaron Award was first handed out in 1999, when Manny Ramirez and Sammy Sosa were the winners. The Angels have had two previous winners, with Mike Trout taking home the award in both 2014 and 2019.
This season, the AL West dominated the nominations list, with seven of the nine AL finalists coming from the West division, one from the Angels and Seattle Mariners, two from the Houston Astros and three from the Texas Rangers.
The winners of the award will be announced during the World Series.
Hank Aaron Award finalists
American League
Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros
Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
Julio Rodríguez, Seattle Mariners
Yandy Díaz, Tampa Bay Rays
Adolis García, Texas Rangers
Corey Seager, Texas Rangers
Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers
National League
Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves
Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks
Cody Bellinger, Chicago Cubs
Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers
Luis Arraez, Miami Marlins
Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
Juan Soto, San Diego Padres