Edgar Martínez Award Explained

Edgar Martínez Award
Description:	Most outstanding designated hitter in Major League Baseball (Exclusively American League for 1973–2019, 2021)
Presenter:	Baseball Writers' Association of America
Country:	United States
Year:	1973
Holder:	Shohei Ohtani (LAA)

The Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, commonly referred to as the Edgar Martínez Award and originally known as the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, has been presented annually to the most outstanding designated hitter (DH) in Major League Baseball (MLB) since 1973. The award is voted on by club beat reporters, broadcasters, and public relations departments. The Associated Press discontinued the award in 2000, but it was picked up by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, which has administered it since.^[1] All players with a minimum of 100 at bats at DH are eligible.^[2] From the award's inception in 1973 until 2019, and in 2021, use of the designated hitter was allowed only in the American League (AL).

In September 2004, at Safeco Field (now T-Mobile Park) ceremonies in honor of Edgar Martínez, Commissioner Bud Selig announced that the award would be renamed for the five-time recipient (1995, 1997–98, 2000–01).^[3] In an 18-year career with the Seattle Mariners, primarily as a designated hitter, Martínez batted .312, with 309 career home runs and 1,261 runs batted in.^[4]

In 2020, Major League Baseball allowed the use of the designated hitter for the National League (NL) in addition to the American League, expanding eligibility for the award to designated hitters in either league. The 2020 winner was Marcell Ozuna of the Atlanta Braves, who became the first-ever winner of the award from the National League.^[5] In 2021, MLB returned to only using the designated hitter for the American League, before a new collective bargaining agreement between MLB and its players' union allowed the use of the designated hitter in the National League beginning in the 2022 season.^[6]

David Ortiz has won the award eight times, more than any other player (2003–2007, 2011, 2013, 2016).^{[7] [8]} Other repeat winners of the award include Martinez himself (five times), three-time winners Hal McRae (1976, 1980, and 1982) and Shohei Ohtani (2021–2023), and two-time winners Willie Horton (1975 and 1979), Greg Luzinski (1981 and 1983), Don Baylor (1985 and 1986), Harold Baines (1987 and 1988), Dave Parker (1989 and 1990), Paul Molitor (1993 and 1996), and Nelson Cruz (2017 and 2019). Boston Red Sox players have won the most Edgar Martínez Awards with eleven.^[1]

In 2021, Shohei Ohtani became the first player to win both the Edgar Martínez Award and the American League MVP award in the same season.^[9] He accomplished this feat again after the 2023 season.^[10]

Key

Year	The MLB season the award was given
Player	Denotes winning player and number of times they had won the award at that point (if more than one)
Team	The designated hitter's team
	Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
	Denotes player who is still active
BA	batting average
HR	Home runs
RBI	Runs batted in
Italics	Indicates player led the AL in that category
Italics	Indicates player led the NL in that category

List of winners

Year	Player	Team	BA	HR	RBI	class=unsortable scope="col"	Ref
		Boston Red Sox	.289	20	86	^[11] ^[12]
		Baltimore Orioles	.289	11	84	^[13]
		Detroit Tigers	.275	25	92	^[14]
		Kansas City Royals	.332	8	73	^[15] ^[16]
		Boston Red Sox	.320	39	114	^[17] ^[18]
		Detroit Tigers	.273	24	121	^[19]
		Seattle Mariners	.279	29	106	^[20]
		Kansas City Royals	.297	14	83
		Chicago White Sox	.265	21	62	^[21]
		Kansas City Royals	.308	27	133	^[22]
		Chicago White Sox	.255	32	95
		Oakland Athletics	.268	35	118	^[23]
		New York Yankees	.231	23	91	^[24] ^[25]
		Boston Red Sox	.238	31	94
		Chicago White Sox	.293	20	93	^[26]
		Chicago White Sox	.277	13	81
		Oakland Athletics	.264	22	97	^[27]
		Milwaukee Brewers	.289	21	92
		Minnesota Twins	.277	29	93	^[28]
		Toronto Blue Jays	.290	26	108	^[29]
		Toronto Blue Jays	.332	22	111	^[30]
		Seattle Mariners	.356	29	113
		Minnesota Twins	.341	9	113	^[31]
		Seattle Mariners	.330	28	108
		Seattle Mariners	.322	29	102
		Texas Rangers	.324	47	148	^[32]
		Seattle Mariners	.324	37	145
		Seattle Mariners	.306	23	116
		Cleveland Indians	.301	32	91	^[33]
		Boston Red Sox	.288	31	101	^[34] ^[35]
		Boston Red Sox	.301	41	139	^[36]
		Boston Red Sox	.300	47	148	^[37]
		Boston Red Sox	.287	54	137	^[38]
		Boston Red Sox	.332	35	117
		Baltimore Orioles	.304	32	108	^[39] ^[40]
		Toronto Blue Jays	.305	35	114	^[41]
		Texas Rangers	.300	29	115	^[42] ^[43]
		Boston Red Sox	.309	29	96
		Kansas City Royals	.313	29	107	^[44]
		Boston Red Sox	.309	30	103	^[45]
		Detroit Tigers	.335	32	103	^[46]
		Kansas City Royals	.295	21	104	^[47]
		Boston Red Sox	.317	38	127	^[48]
		Seattle Mariners	.288	39	119	^[49]
		Oakland Athletics	.247	48	123	^[50]
		Minnesota Twins	.311	41	108	^[51]
		Atlanta Braves	.338	18	56	^[52]
		Los Angeles Angels	.257	46	100	^[53]
		Los Angeles Angels	.273	34	95	^[54]
		Los Angeles Angels	.304	44	95	^[55]

See also

• List of Silver Slugger Award winners at designated hitter
• List of Major League Baseball awards

References

In-line citations

Notes and References

1. Web site: Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award. Baseball Almanac. October 3, 2011.
2. News: Lind named Outstanding DH of 2009. MLB.com. Jordan. Bastian. December 15, 2009. October 4, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20091219131242/http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091215&content_id=7813944&vkey=news_tor&fext=.jsp&c_id=tor. December 19, 2009. mdy-all.
3. News: Edgar gives tip of the cap in tribute; M's fall to Rangers. Bob. Finnigan. The Seattle Times. October 3, 2004. September 28, 2011.
4. Web site: Edgar Martínez Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
5. Web site: Ozuna named DH of Year in first look at role. MLB.com. April 28, 2021.
6. News: MLB renews 7-inning doubleheaders, runners on 2nd in extras. Associated Press. Ronald. Blum. February 8, 2021. April 28, 2021.
7. News: Ian. Browne. Ortiz wins Edgar Martinez Award. MLB.com. December 4, 2007. September 28, 2011. David Ortiz ... was the winner of Major League Baseball's Edgar Martinez Award for the fifth straight year.. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131213135404/http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071204&content_id=2317309&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos. December 13, 2013. mdy-all.
8. News: Papi's bounce-back season honored with award. Ian. Brown. MLB.com. December 7, 2011. December 7, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120107154540/http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111207&content_id=26118702&vkey=news_bos&c_id=bos. January 7, 2012. mdy-all.
9. Web site: Shohei Ohtani Statistics and History. Sports Reference, LLC. Baseball-Reference. December 12, 2021.
10. Web site: Three-peat! Ohtani wins Outstanding DH Award again . MLB.com.
11. Book: McKelvey, G. Richard. All bat, no glove: a history of the designated hitter. Jefferson, North Carolina. McFarland & Company. 2004. 0-7864-1944-X. 180–181. September 28, 2011.
12. Web site: Orlando Cepeda Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
13. Web site: Tommy Davis Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
14. Web site: Willie Horton Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
15. News: Russell Knows Why. Eugene Register-Guard. Wire Service Reports. December 3, 1976. September 28, 2011. 2D.
16. Web site: Hal McRae Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
17. News: Honor For Rice. Times-Union. United Press International. 15. December 3, 1977. September 28, 2011.
18. Web site: Jim Rice Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
19. Web site: Rusty Staub Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
20. News: Horton Comeback Player. Associated Press. Ludington Daily News. January 8, 1980. 8. September 28, 2011.
21. Web site: Greg Luzinski Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
22. News: Sports Briefs. Lawrence Journal-World. Associated Press. November 30, 1982. 12. September 28, 2011.
23. Web site: Dave Kingman Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
24. News: Red Sox host Yanks series. Seth. Livingstone. The Lewiston Journal. June 23, 1986. 1B. September 28, 2011.
25. Web site: Don Baylor Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
26. Web site: Harold Baines Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
27. Web site: Dave Parker Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
28. Web site: Chili Davis Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
29. Web site: Dave Winfield Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
30. Web site: Paul Molitor Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
31. News: Miranda, Brewers reach agreement on contract. https://archive.today/20120714224441/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FKUaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Bi4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3708,6338992. dead. July 14, 2012. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Associated Press. 12C. December 20, 1996. September 28, 2011.
32. Web site: Rafael Palmeiro Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
33. Web site: Ellis Burks Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
34. News: Sean . McAdam . Winter Baseball Meetings Notebook: A-Rod comments on TV stir up a hornets' nest . . December 14, 2003 . September 28, 2011.
35. Web site: David Ortiz Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
36. News: Baseball; Red Sox notebook; Francona on talk tour. https://archive.today/20120715082002/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/762013171.html?dids=762013171:762013171&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+12,+2004&author=Jeff+Horrigan&pub=Boston+Herald&desc=BASEBALL;+RED+SOX+NOTEBOOK;+Francona+on+talk+tour&pqatl=google. dead. July 15, 2012. Boston Herald. Jeff. Horrigan. December 12, 2004. B.03. September 28, 2011.
37. Boston's David Ortiz wins third straight Edgar Martinez Award. Major League Baseball. December 21, 2005. September 28, 2011.
38. Boston's Ortiz captures fourth straight outstanding DH award. MLB.com. December 5, 2006. September 28, 2011.
39. News: Huff wins Outstanding DH Award. Spencer. Fordin. MLB.com. December 10, 2008. September 28, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110928015252/http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081210&content_id=3711096&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal. September 28, 2011. mdy-all.
40. Web site: Aubrey Huff Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110926163645/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/huffau01.shtml. September 26, 2011. dead.
41. Web site: Adam Lind Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
42. News: Vlad wins Edgar Martínez Award. Spencer. Fordin. MLB.com. November 24, 2010. September 28, 2011.
43. Web site: Vladimir Guerrero Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. October 4, 2011.
44. News: Butler earns Martinez Outstanding DH Award. Dick. Kaegel. MLB.com. December 4, 2012. December 4, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130313045326/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121204&content_id=40519910&vkey=news_kc&c_id=kc. March 13, 2013. mdy-all.
45. Web site: David Ortiz the unanimous choice for Edgar Martinez Outstanding DH Award . MLB.com. November 11, 2021.
46. News: V-Mart named Outstanding DH for first time. Jason. Beck. MLB.com. December 4, 2014. December 4, 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141209114430/http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/103186856/detroit-tigers-victor-martinez-named-edgar-martinez-outstanding-dh. December 9, 2014. mdy-all.
47. Web site: Kendrys Morales wins the Edgar Martinez DH of the Year Award. Craig. Calcaterra. NBC Sports. December 1, 2015. December 9, 2015.
48. News: David Ortiz wins 8th Edgar Martinez DH award, three more than Edgar ever did. Matt. Snyder. CBS Sports. November 30, 2016. November 30, 2016.
49. Web site: Mariners' Nelson Cruz voted as the 2017 Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter award winner. Ryan. Divish. Seattle Times. November 30, 2017. January 1, 2018.
50. Web site: A's Khris Davis wins Edgar Martinez Award because he actually was a DH . November 22, 2018 . November 23, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181123022927/https://sports.yahoo.com/khris-davis-wins-edgar-martinez-045137339.html . dead .
51. Web site: Twins' Nelson Cruz named MLB's Outstanding Designated Hitter. Twincities.com. December 2, 2019. November 11, 2021.
52. Web site: Marcell Ozuna becomes first National League player to win Designated Hitter of the Year award. Cbssports.com. November 11, 2021.
53. Web site: Ohtani wins 2021 Edgar Martinez DH Award. MLB.com. November 29, 2021.
54. Web site: Ohtani honored with 2nd straight Outstanding DH Award. MLB.com. November 29, 2022.
55. Web site: Three-peat! Ohtani wins Outstanding DH Award again . MLB.com.