Shohei Ohtani receives GOAT recognition from Justin Verlander’s brother after 2024 Hank Aaron Award victory

Shohei Ohtani (left) and Ben Verlander (right) (credit: Imagn, Ben Verlander/Instagram)

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani won the Hank Aaron Award for the second-straight year. In the All-MLB Team Show on Thursday, the superstar slugger emerged as the winner, thanks in large part to his NL-leading 54 home runs.

Ohtani’s feat didn’t go unnoticed. Especially, for his No. 1 fan, Justin Verlander’s brother, Ben. The younger Verlander has been annointed in social media as an “Ohtani glazer” due to his regular praise and admiration for baseball’s modern-day unicorn.

Verlander posted a photo of Ohtani after the Japanese won the Hank Aaron Award. He followed it up by placing GOAT emojis in the caption.

“Shohei Ohtani. 2024 Hank Aaron Award Winner. Best hitter in the National League” – @ Ben Verlander

Ben Verlander has drawn flak for defending Shohei Ohtani on social media and podcasts. This time, though, he had the last laugh, as Ohtani bagged the best hitter award, amid many other accolades, for his exploits this year.

Shohei Ohtani hauls several awards at All-MLB Team Show

For the sixth-time in league history, Major League Baseball named its All-MLB first and second teams. The awards show was held at The Chelsea of The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas to honor the best baseball players of the calendar year.

Shohei Ohtani was one of the night’s big winners, as he won the Hank Aaron Award and was named to the MLB All-First Team. It was the superstar’s second-consecutive Hank Aaron Award (first in the NL) after winning it in the American League with the Los Angeles Angels last year.

Ohtani was also named to his fifth-consecutive All-MLB First Team. This year, the Japanese star got was voted as the National League designated hitter after leading the NL in home runs with 54 and 130 RBIs while opening the 50/50 club. Moreover, the World Series champion also led all major league batters in runs and total bases.

Along with Arizona Diamondback Ketel Marte and New York Met Francisco Lindor, Ohtani was nominated for the National League MVP Award. If Ohtani wins the highest individual accolade in the game, he will join just 11 other men to have won at least three MVP awards.

He’s also on the verge of being the only other player other than Hall of Famer Frank Robinson to win both the AL and NL MVP honors.