For the second time in three years, Shohei Ohtani has been named The Associated Press' Male Athlete of the Year.

Ohtani recently signed the most lucrative contract in North American sports history, a $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ohtani edged Lionel Messi and Novak Djokovic for the AP honor in voting by a panel of sports media professionals.

Ohtani received 20 of 87 votes, while Messi and Djokovic got 16 apiece. Nikola Jokic got 12 votes.