Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters star Shohei Otani made history when he was named to the Pacific League's Best Nine team as both pitcher and designated hitter when the awards were announced Friday afternoon.
The Fighters star excelled in both areas this season and benefitted from a rule change, that had him in mind, earlier this season that permitted voters to choose a pitcher in the DH spot.
He received 111 votes at pitcher, beating out the Chiba Lotte Marines' Ayumu Ishikawa, who was second with 69. Otani's selection was far more comprehensive at DH, where he garnered 190 votes to the 47 cast for second-place finisher Alfredo Despaigne of the Marines.