Fourth time's a charm: Shohei Ohtani is the AP's Male Athlete of the Year, again

Fourth time’s a charm: Shohei Ohtani is the AP’s Male Athlete of the Year, again Nation Dec 9, 2025 11:52 AM EST

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is catching up with more legends.

The baseball superstar ends 2025 by winning The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the fourth time, tying him with Lance Armstrong, LeBron James and Tiger Woods for most among male honorees.

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“Receiving this award multiple times is something truly special,” Ohtani said in Japanese in an exclusive interview with the AP.

Ohtani received 29 of 47 votes in balloting among sports journalists from the AP and its members after his two-way dominance culminated in a repeat World Series titl