Shohei, Mookie (First Team) and Teoscar (Second Team) earn All-MLB honors
LOS ANGELES -- The 2024 All-MLB Awards presented by MGM Rewards were announced on Thursday and the Dodgers’ offense, which was one of the best units through the regular season, was well represented.
Superstars Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts were both recognized on the First Team at their respective positions (designated hitter and outfield). It’s the second consecutive season the two superstars made the All-MLB First Team. Outfielder Teoscar Hernández was one of three outfielders to be selected to the Second Team.
All three players were obvious choices given their performance over the course of the regular season. Ohtani is likely on his way to a third Most Valuable Player Award after becoming the first player in history to hit 50 or more homers and record 50 or more stolen bases in the same season.
Fresh off a record 10-year, $700 million deal last offseason, Ohtani showed exactly why he is worth that contract in his first season with the Dodgers. Ohtani, who didn’t pitch this season, will be back to being a two-way player in '25.
Betts, on the other hand, missed a couple of months with a fractured left hand, but still found a way to put up MVP-like numbers when he was on the field. Before the injury, Betts was considered the early favorite for NL MVP.
The now three-time World Series champion also showed off his versatility, taking the reins at shortstop just days before the start of the season. Betts hadn’t played shortstop full time since high school. Upon returning from injury, Betts then moved back to right field for the remainder of the season once the Dodgers acquired Tommy Edman from the Cardinals.
In his first season with the Dodgers, Hernández proved to be one of the best offseason pickups by any team. The Dominican outfielder set a career high with 33 homers and recorded 99 RBIs. He provided the Dodgers a steady presence in the middle of their lineup all season long. His teammates dubbed him as the most clutch performer on the team this season.
Now a free agent, he hopes to return to the Dodgers this winter, but competition will be stiff for his services thanks to a career season at the plate. As for Freddie Freeman, the star first baseman didn’t make either team. It’s important to remember, however, that voting was only for the regular season and his superb World Series run was not taken into consideration.
All-MLB honors, first established in 2019, recognize the best player or players at each position across the Majors this past season, with both First Team and Second Team selections.