Two-way MVP Ohtani showcases multilingual prowess at writers' awards gala
The 101st New York Baseball Writers' Gala was a star-studded affair, celebrating the 2025 Baseball Writers' Association of America award winners: MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, and Manager of the Year. The evening's highlights featured two exceptional players, each claiming their league's MVP title: Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge.
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Ohtani, a Japanese sports icon, claimed his fourth unanimous MVP Award last year, achieving a career-best 55 home runs and a National League-leading 1.014 OPS for the Dodgers, while also showcasing his pitching prowess with a 2.87 ERA and 33% strikeout rate over 14 starts. Despite typically relying on an interpreter, Ohtani delivered his acceptance speech entirely in English, as he had done for his 2024 NL MVP Award, which was pre-recorded.
"Thank you to all the writers who voted for me," Ohtani expressed. "This MVP Award holds immense significance, and its repeat win means the world to me."
Ohtani also extended his congratulations to the 1986 Mets, who were honored at the gala, sharing the joy of becoming a world champion.
"To my fellow recipients, I congratulate you all on your achievements, especially the '86 Mets," Ohtani said. "I now understand the feeling of becoming a world champion, and it's truly special. Congratulations on your 40th anniversary."
Judge, introduced by former teammate Anthony Rizzo as 'the King of New York,' expressed gratitude for the event's recognition of his talent. With three MVP Awards under his belt, Judge acknowledged the exceptional talent gathered.
"To all the award winners here tonight, this is an incredible assembly," Judge remarked. "I've never been around so many great players, even starting with the Rookies of the Year. It's inspiring to see their growth over the years. I hope we get to see this group again in the future."
Judge also shared a motivational quote from his father, emphasizing the importance of continuous effort.
"I reflect on it daily," Judge said. "'If what you did yesterday still feels significant today, you haven't achieved anything new.'"
The Cy Young Award saw a repeat winner in the American League, as Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal dominated in 2025 with a 2.21 ERA and 0.89 WHIP, along with 241 strikeouts.
"I'm humbled to be part of this esteemed group," Skubal stated. "The greatness of my fellow honorees inspires me to strive for my best performance every time I take the mound. It's an honor to be back here, and I'll never take it for granted."
The National League counterpart, Pirates' flamethrower Paul Skenes, was introduced by the legendary Dwight Gooden, who, like Skenes, won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 1984 and followed it with the NL Cy Young Award the next year.
Skenes led the Majors with a 1.97 ERA, building on his 1.96 ERA in his rookie campaign. The 23-year-old right-hander struck out 29.5% of batters faced and finished sixth in NL MVP voting. For the second consecutive year, he started on the mound in the All-Star Game for the NL.
"Despite the award's prestige, the most memorable part of tonight is being introduced by Doc Gooden," Skenes said. "To all viewers, I want to emphasize: no matter your background, the length of your journey, or the number of times you hear 'not yet' or 'not possible,' keep pushing forward. Believe in your work, trust the process, and never let others define your limits. I'm here because I refuse to accept 'can't' as a limitation."
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In his speech, he emphasized the honor's significance, not just for his accomplishments but for its namesake.
"Winning the Jackie Robinson Award as an African American is truly special," Baldwin said. "It's a recognition of his legacy, allowing me to play the game I love."
The AL Rookie of the Year, first baseman Nick Kurtz, expressed gratitude to the Athletics organization for their faith in him, bringing him to the big leagues just a year after being drafted.
"I want to thank the A's organization for taking a chance on me in 2024 and fast-tracking my ascent," Kurtz said. "Their support gave me the confidence and skills to excel."
The managers of the year, Guardians' Steven Vogt in the AL and Brewers' Pat Murphy in the NL, each won their second consecutive award.
"I never imagined winning this award twice in a row," Vogt said. "I'm incredibly grateful and blessed. Our team's resilience through adversity and their unwavering focus on winning the division title make me incredibly proud."
Murphy, whose Brewers had the best record in baseball last year, was introduced by his son-in-law, former Pirates slugger Pedro Álvarez.
"This Manager of the Year award is about the organization and the players," Murphy stated. "I had an incredible team of hungry, dedicated individuals who made winning their priority. Their commitment never wavered."
The New York BBWAA chapter presented numerous other awards, including the Joe DiMaggio 'Toast of the Town' Award (Pete Alonso), the Sid Mercer/Dick Young New York Player of the Year Award (Judge), the Joan Payson/Shannon Forde Community Service Award (Carlos and Ashley Rodón), and the Babe Ruth Postseason MVP Award (Yoshinobu Yamamoto).
Perhaps the best summary of the night's significance came from Skubal.
"We're at a remarkable juncture in the history of our beloved sport," he said. "It's humbling to stand here and acknowledge my place within it."
