Shohei Ohtani picked up his second American League MVP in the past three seasons on Thursday, winning the award in a unanimous decision.
Longtime Angels teammate and three-time MVP Mike Trout took to social media with a message of congratulations for Ohtani after the award was announced.
“Congrats on an epic year and well deserved MVP. Proud of you, brother!” wrote Trout on X, alongside a photo of himself and Ohtani.
Between Trout and Ohtani, the Angels have had five of the past nine American League MVP winners. During that span, the team has made the postseason just one time.
Congrats on an epic year and well deserved MVP. Proud of you, brother! pic.twitter.com/oJQlIT7zxZ
— Mike Trout (@MikeTrout) November 16, 2023
The superstar tandem have played together since Ohtani entered the league in 2018. Their partnership seems likely to be coming to an end this offseason.
On Tuesday, Ohtani was one of seven players in MLB to reject the $20.325 million qualifying offer from their respective teams. As such, he officially declared for free agency, where he figures to be one of the most sought after free agents in MLB history.
Amid Ohtani’s uncertain future, Trout sent him a congratulatory message in celebration of his unprecedented accomplishment, in which he became the first player in MLB history to win two unanimous MVP awards.
