LAS VEGAS — Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani added more hardware to their growing collections Thursday night as both stars claimed two major honors during MLB’s awards show only hours after being named MVPs of their respective leagues. The Yankees captain and Dodgers superstar were recognized with the Hank Aaron Award and All MLB First Team selections, cementing a historic night for two of baseball’s biggest names.
Judge and Ohtani each secured their third straight Hank Aaron Award, which goes to the top offensive performer in each league. Only Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez had achieved at least three before Thursday. The Yankees and Dodgers icons joined this elite group after seasons that further elevated their status as the most dominant hitters in the sport.
Judge powered through a right elbow injury and still delivered a season that ranked among the best in Yankees history. He hit .331 with a .457 on base percentage and a .688 slugging percentage. His 1.144 OPS led MLB. He also topped the league in all three slash line categories. His 53 home runs were second only to Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh’s 60. The Yankees star continued to perform at a level few players reach during their prime years.
Historic night produces unprecedented achievements
Ohtani reached another milestone by becoming only the second player in baseball history to win four MVP awards. He trails only Bonds, who won seven. Ohtani captured all 30 first place votes, which made him the only player in MLB history to be voted MVP unanimously more than once.
The Dodgers star also collected his fifth straight Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award. He matched David Ortiz’s record of five consecutive wins. Only Ortiz with eight total DH awards has more than Ohtani’s current total.
“The biggest thing is obviously being able to win the World Series,” Ohtani said through an interpreter while reflecting on his 2025 accomplishments.
Ohtani hit .282 with a .392 on base percentage and a .622 slugging percentage. He also belted 55 home runs, breaking his own Dodgers franchise record set in 2024. His 1.014 OPS led the National League. He scored an MLB high 146 runs while serving as Los Angeles’ designated hitter.
Yankees legend joins elite company with third MVP
Judge collected his third MVP award after a tight race with Raleigh. He won 355 to 335 in total points. He received 17 first place votes while Raleigh earned 13. It was the closest MVP finish since 2019 when Trout edged Bregman by the same four vote margin.
The Yankees captain became the fourth player in team history to win three MVPs. He joined DiMaggio, Berra and Mantle on a short list of the greatest Yankees ever. No franchise has produced more MVP winners than the Yankees with 23.
“It’s tough for me to wrap my head around it,” Judge said Thursday night. “I just play this game to win. I play this game for my teammates, my family, all the fans in New York.”
Judge led MLB in all four slash categories. He scored 137 runs, hit 85 extra base hits and totaled 372 bases. His 36 intentional walks set a new American League record. Only the Yankees as a team were intentionally walked more often than Judge by himself.
All-MLB First Team recognizes both superstars
The awards show hosted by Roy Wood Jr. and Dodgers standout Mookie Betts also included the reveal of the All MLB teams. Judge and Ohtani earned First Team honors after their historic seasons.
Ohtani secured his eighth All MLB selection since the award began in 2019. No other player has more than six. The honor added to his string of 2025 awards that included MVP, Hank Aaron and DH honors.
Judge earned his First Team spot by putting together a season that placed him among the top offensive performers in Yankees history. He became the tallest batting champion ever at six foot seven. He joined Foxx and Mantle as the only players to win a batting title and hit at least 50 home runs in the same season.
Raleigh earned the First Team catcher spot after his historic power display. His 60 home runs were the most ever by a catcher. He also set single season records for switch hitters and for the Mariners franchise.
Pitching excellence meets hitting dominance
Ohtani added pitching value to his resume after rehabbing from elbow surgery. He made 14 regular season starts and four postseason appearances. His return to the mound did not slow his production at the plate. He became the fifth player to hit at least 50 homers and score at least 145 runs in one season.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman praised Judge during the ceremony. “He is a once in a generation player who embodies so much of what is good about our game,” Cashman said. “Aaron is being celebrated again tonight, and rightfully so.”
Judge posted a 9.7 WAR according to Baseball Reference, which topped the American League by a wide margin. Ohtani led MLB with a 10.1 FanGraphs WAR, showcasing his two way value even with a limited workload on the mound.
Championship remains Judge’s ultimate goal
Judge reflected on the one achievement he continues to chase. Despite his MVP awards and his dominance with the Yankees, he still seeks a World Series title.
“I think I’d trade every award I’ve gotten and every All Star appearance for an opportunity to win a championship,” Judge said. “That’s my main focus. That’s why I wake up every day.”
Ohtani reached that goal in 2025. He helped the Dodgers win their second straight World Series title. His postseason run included NLCS MVP honors for a three homer, 10 strikeout performance in the clinching game against Milwaukee.
Thursday capped an unforgettable year for the Yankees captain and the Dodgers star. Their combined achievements raised the standard for excellence across MLB and delivered one of the most decorated nights in awards history.
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