Edgar Martínez Award

The award is voted on by club beat reporters, broadcasters, and public relations departments.

[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).

[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.

Boston Red Sox players have won the most Edgar Martínez Awards with eleven.

Orlando Cepeda waving to a crowd
Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda was the first winner of the award.
David Ortiz points to the sky as he steps on home plate.
David Ortiz won the award eight times.
Shohei Ohtani wearing red Los Angeles Angels uniform, jogging towards the camera and facing off to the left.
Shohei Ohtani won four consecutive awards from 2021 to 2024