Yordan Alvarez takes over: Astros slugger wins MLB’s Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, stopping Shohei Ohtani’s run

Yordan Alvarez was named the MLB’s Outstanding Designated Hitter on Wednesday night at the MLB Awards presented by MGM Rewards in Las Vegas, a result that ended Shohei Ohtani’s streak at the award.

Alvarez unseated Ohtani for the honor, becoming the first designated-hitter winner not named Ohtani since 2020. The award’s run of Ohtani winners had reached five consecutive years, tying David Ortiz for the most consecutive DH award wins since the award began in 1973.

Astros Hall of Fame first baseman Jeff Bagwell presented Alvarez, joking that he might have been the “worst DH in the history of baseball,” pointing to his limited DH work and career plate-appearance splits at the position. Bagwell’s own DH usage, per MLB’s recap, was just 51 career plate appearances.

MLB said Alvarez is the first Astros player to win this award, following a season in which he played 134 games at designated hitter and posted a.305/.422/.575 slash line with 34 home runs and 83 RBIs.

The league’s release also tied Alvarez’s DH award to a broader offensive profile. MLB reported he won the AL batting title (.316) and led the league in on-base percentage (.432), slugging (.601), OPS (1.033), offensive WAR (7.2), total bases (341), walks (109), and extra-base hits (77), finishing second in RBIs (106) and tying for second in home runs (42).

The Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award was renamed in 2004 to honor Martinez, who spent his entire career with the Mariners and won the award multiple times. MLB said ballots are cast by club beat writers, broadcasters, and public relations departments, and that nominees must meet a minimum of 100 at-bats as a DH.

Alvarez’s DH award arrived while he was also a finalist for AL Most Valuable Player, with the release noting Silver Slugger finalist status at DH as well.