Los Angeles Dodgers’ superstar Shohei Ohtani is the 2024 National League Most Valuable Player.

It was a unanimous decision to award the Japanese phenom the 2024 MVP, and in doing so, create another historic moment as he becomes the first full-time designated hitter to win it.

Cementing his legacy as one of the game’s greatest players, Ohtani’s first season as a member of the Dodgers will be remembered as one of the most accomplished single seasons in sports history.

He became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season, finishing with a .310 batting average, 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, and 59 stolen bases. His 1.036 OPS led the National League and was second in all of baseball behind presumptive AL MVP Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees.

The Dodgers signed Ohtani to a record-setting $700 million deal last December, and he immediately delivered on his monumental contract.

In addition to his incredible regular-season numbers, Ohtani played a pivotal role in leading the Dodgers to their first World Series title since 2020. The Dodgers defeated the Yankees in five games, with Ohtani providing key hits throughout the postseason, including a home run in his first-ever playoff game.

While injuries kept him from reaching his regular season greatness, Ohtani’s still delivered playoff heroics and helped silence any remaining doubters.

His unanimous selection as NL MVP follows three previous AL MVP awards, making him the only player in MLB history to achieve such a feat across both leagues.

Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets finished second in MVP voting, while Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte placed third.

After finally making the playoffs and winning a championship in his first year with the Dodgers, Ohtani is poised to return to the mound in 2025 as the game’s most electrifying two-way player.

The Los Angeles Dodgers met with four-time all-star Juan Soto this week but unless the market changes the defending World Series champs may have a tough time signing the coveted free agent, KTLA’s David “Ping” Pingalore reports.

“I can confirm through sources that @juansoto25_ did meet with Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes in Orange County today,” Ping posted on his Instagram account Tuesday.

Soto is the most sought-after slugger in the free agent market with other big-payroll teams like the New York Yankees (Soto’s most recent club) and the New York Mets expected to engage in a bidding war to land the outfielder who cracked 41 homers and knocked in 109 RBI while recording a .288 batting average in 2024.

The Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies are also expected to take a shot at Soto but Ping says Los Angeles may be hampered by a hesitancy to offer a long-term deal.

“According to sources if the market weakens the @dodgers interest would only be a 1-2 year deal as Soto seeks a long-term deal for 600m,” Ping posted.

The Dodgers are very familiar with what Soto can offer a team’s offense after facing him as a member of the Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres in the National League. 

Soto also played well in the World Series against the Dodgers. Despite the Yankees losing in five games Soto batted .313 and hit a home run in Game 2.

A security guard was arrested in connection with a man found stabbed to death in a Santa Monica alleyway.

The suspect was identified as Sebastian Emil Gaston, 36, the Santa Monica Police Department confirmed on Nov. 19.

On Sept. 6, police responded to reports of a person on the ground in the 1100 Block of Alley 6.

Arriving officers found the victim with a fatal stab wound to his upper chest. He was only identified as a homeless man in his 30s.

The suspect had fled the scene before authorities arrived. After gathering surveillance footage and witness statements, detectives identified Gaston as the suspect.

They also discovered that Gaston was a security guard who worked at the building adjacent to where the deadly stabbing occurred.

On Nov. 7, Gaston was taken into custody. During his interrogation, police said he admitted to the deadly stabbing as well as a previous assault that happened in July.

Details on the motive behind the murder or whether the victim and the suspect knew each other were not released.

Gaston remains in the custody of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department pending trial.

Anyone with information about the deadly incident is encouraged to contact Detective Kayondo at lawrence.kayondo@santamonica.gov or Sergeant Lozano at alfonso.lozano@santamonica.gov.

The public can also call the Watch Commander at 310-458-8427.