Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani became the fourth Japanese player to win a Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award when he was recognized as the best first-year player in the American League on Monday.

Ohtani is the first Japanese player since the Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki in 2001 to win Rookie of the Year honors. The award is given annually to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

(Ohtani responds to interview questions after winning the award)[Angels Baseball/Kyodo]

"I am delighted," said Ohtani. "It's good because I think all the people that supported me are pleased as well."

Ohtani was also pleased to be following in Suzuki's footsteps.

"I have watched him (Suzuki) since I was a child. He is a player I have looked up to."


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Ohtani received 25 first-place votes and four second-place votes for a total of 137 points, only one of the 30 voters omitted him from the ballot altogether. The Yankees' Miguel Andujar was the only other player to receive a first-place vote, taking five, he finished well behind Ohtani with 89 points.

(Shohei Ohtani (R) and Ichiro Suzuki)

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. was named Rookie of the Year in the National League.

Hideo Nomo of the Los Angeles Dodgers was named the NL Rookie of the Year in 1995 and Kazuhiro Sasaki was the AL Rookie of the Year in 2000 when he played for the Mariners.

The 24-year-old Ohtani spent five seasons with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan before the Angels signed him to a minor-league contract last offseason.

In his major league debut, Ohtani joined Babe Ruth as the only other player to hit 15 home runs and pitch 50 innings in a season, as well as start 10 games and hit 20 homers.

Before he underwent successful surgery on his throwing elbow on Oct. 1, Ohtani had 22 homers as a hitter and 63 strikeouts as a pitcher. On the mound, he went 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA in 10 starts. At the plate, he hit .285 with 61 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 104 games.

"If you look at the numbers, I have contributed more as a batter than a pitcher," said Ohtani. "I was missing as a pitcher at an important time and that sticks in my mind."

Ohtani landed on the disabled list in early June with a Grade 2 ulnar collateral ligament sprain. He did not pitch for nearly three months and was used exclusively as a hitter while rehabilitating his right elbow.

He returned the mound for one game in September before discovering new damage in his elbow, prompting the team to recommended Tommy John surgery, a procedure known to sideline pitchers for about a year.

The Japanese star said he is focused on getting back in shape for next season and is looking forward to a long career.

"I think I'm making a lot of progress. As next season comes around, I want to do my best to improve my condition," Ohtani said. "I think I have a long career ahead of me, so I want to work hard next season as well in order to do well."

(Ohtani with his agent Nez Balelo)[Angels Baseball/Kyodo]

The news of Ohtani's award elated fans in Japan. It was especially welcome for fans in Sapporo, Hokkaido -- home to the Nippon Ham Fighters, the club Ohtani previously played for -- coming a mere two months after a devastating earthquake hit the northern main island.

"I am so happy to hear such joyful news," said a 71-year-old woman in Sapporo who has supported Ohtani since his days as a Nippon Ham Fighters player.

"He is Japan's treasure. He was able to display his strength even overseas because he had a strong foundation and character," she said.

(Two women in Morioka city read about Ohtani winning the award in a newspaper extra)