Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper among Players Choice Awards winners

Shohei Ohtani, Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer and Robbie Ray highlighted the list of those who claimed Players Choice Awards for the 2021 season. The awards, announced Thursday on ESPN, are presented by the Major League Baseball Players Association and are voted on by the players themselves.

Ohtani and Ray were named Outstanding Player and Outstanding Pitcher, respectively, for the American League, while Harper and Scherzer claimed Outstanding Player and Outstanding Pitcher for the National League, honors similar to the MVP and Cy Young awards that are voted on by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Ohtani was also named Player of the Year, given to the player who “exhibits the best on-field performance” in either league, according to the MLBPA.

Ohtani — also presented with the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award prior to the World Series — put together an unprecedented season as a two-way player for the Los Angeles Angels, boasting a .965 OPS with 46 home runs and 26 stolen bases as a hitter and a 3.18 ERA with 156 strikeouts in 130 1/3 innings as a pitcher.

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez finished second and third, respectively. Guerrero was also runner-up to Ohtani for the Player of the Year Award, with Harper finishing third.

Harper, an MVP in 2015, led the NL in OPS (1.044) and weighted runs created plus (170) while finishing second in FanGraphs wins above replacement (6.6) and adding 35 home runs for the Philadelphia Phillies. Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto was the runner-up for the award, while San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. and Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley tied for third.

“Bryce’s 2021 season was one of the greatest in our franchise’s history,” Phillies owner John Middleton said in a statement. “… When we first signed Bryce, we knew we were getting one of the best in the game. We couldn’t be happier to have him in Phillies…