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Nov 21 (Reuters) - Shohei Ohtani of the World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers was named the unanimous winner of the National League Most Valuable Player award on Thursday.

The Japanese-born Ohtani received all 30 first-place votes in balloting by eligible voters in the Baseball Writers' Association of America to beat out New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte.

It marked the third MVP award for Ohtani, who was named the unanimous MVP in the American League in 2021 and 2023 when he was two-way standout playing for the Los Angeles Angels.

Ohtani joins Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, who won in 1961 with Cincinnati and 1966 with Baltimore, as the only players to win an MVP award in each league but he is the first to do it in back-to-back years.

While rehabbing from elbow surgery that left him unable to pitch in 2024, Ohtani, who signed a $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers last December, became the first player in history with 50 or more home runs and 50 or more stolen bases in the same season.

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Leslie Adler and Christian Schmollinger)

((frank.pingue@thomsonreuters.com; +1 (647) 480-7636;))