Shohei Ohtani has been named The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time. That ties the two-way superstar with Michael Jordan, an athlete Ohtani followed while growing up in Japan.

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is the Associated Press' male athlete of the year for a third time. He and Michael Jordan trail only LeBron James, Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods.

Moving from the beleaguered Los Angeles Angels to the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player award — his first in the National League — led his new team to its eighth World Series championship and created Major League Baseball's 50/50 club by hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases.