The is an annual Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) award given to two outstanding players, one each for the Central League (CL) and Pacific League (PL).
Each league's award is voted on by national baseball writers. Each voter selects three players: a first-place selection is given five points, a second-place selection three points, and a third-place selection one point. The award goes to the player who receives the most overall points. The winners are announced every year in November during Nippon Professional Baseball's awards ceremony called NPB Awards.
The first recipient of the award was Eiji Sawamura. The most recent winners, in 2025, are Teruaki Satō, from the Central League's Hanshin Tigers, and Liván Moinelo, from the Pacific League's Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. In 1940, Victor Starffin became the first player to win the award consecutively and multiple times. Eiji Sawamura and Kazuhisa Inao are the youngest players to receive the awards in 1937 and 1957, respectively, at the ages of 20. In 1988, Hiromitsu Kadota became the oldest player to receive the award at the age of 40.
A majority of the MVP awards were given to players who played on the pennant winning team. There are a few cases where the MVP was awarded to a player who was not on the pennant winning team, however. These include 2 of Oh's MVP seasons in 1964 and 1974, Wladimir Balentien in 2013, Hisashi Iwakuma in 2008, and Hiromitsu Kadota in 1988. Only twice was the award given to a foreigner in both leagues; in 1989 with Ralph Bryant in the Pacific League and Warren Cromartie in the Central League, and in 2001 with Tuffy Rhodes in the Pacific League and Roberto Petagine in the Central League.
Key
Positionplayers RBIs Runs batted in AVG Batting average Pitchers Record Record of decisions (tie games are omitted) Saves Number of saves ERA Earned run average (#) Indicates number of times winning MVP Award (if multiple winner) * Elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
Winners
Japanese Baseball League (1937–1949)
Season Player Team Position Selected statistics Notes * Tokyo Kyojin Pitcher0.81 earned run average 196 strikeouts 24–4 record in 30 appearances (24 games started) Korakuen Eagles Catcher.310 batting average 24 runs scored 17 doubles * Tokyo Senators Second baseman.299 batting average 5 home runs 11 doubles * Tokyo Kyojin Outfielder.361 batting average 10 home runs 38 RBIs * Tokyo Kyojin Pitcher282 strikeouts 38 complete games 42–15 record in 68 appearances (41 games started) * (2) Tokyo Kyojin Pitcher0.97 earned run average 16 shutouts 38–12 record in 55 appearances (42 games started) * Tokyo Kyojin First baseman.310 batting average 21 doubles 57 RBIs * Tokyo Kyojin Second baseman.225 batting average 10 doubles 16 RBIs * Tokyo Kyojin Outfielder.300 batting average 68 runs scored 54 stolen bases * Hanshin Baseball Club Pitcher1.56 earned run average 24 complete games 22–4 record in 31 appearances (24 games started) Season canceled * Great Ring Infielder.314 batting average 95 RBIs 32 stolen bases * (2) Osaka Tigers Pitcher2.09 earned run average 10 shutouts 26–12 record in 43 appearances (35 games started) * (2) Nankai Hawks Third baseman.305 batting average 68 RBIs 23 stolen bases * Osaka Tigers Third baseman.332 batting average 46 home runs 142 RBIs
Nippon Professional Baseball (1950–present)
Central League
Season Player Team Position Selected statistics Notes * Shochiku Robins Outfielder.355 batting average 51 home runs 161 RBIs * (2) Yomiuri Giants First baseman.377 batting average 27 doubles 81 RBIs * Yomiuri Giants Pitcher1.94 earned run average 371 innings pitched 33–13 record in 52 appearances (41 games started) Yomiuri Giants Pitcher1.86 earned run average 22 complete games 27–6 record in 43 appearances (29 games started) * Chunichi Dragons Pitcher1.39 earned run average 395 innings pitched 32–12 record in 63 appearances (32 games started) * (3) Yomiuri Giants First baseman.338 batting average 12 home runs 79 RBIs * (2) Yomiuri Giants Pitcher1.93 earned run average 26 complete games 27–15 record in 54 appearances (35 games started) * Yomiuri Giants Outfielder.343 batting average 12 home runs 48 RBIs * Yomiuri Giants Pitcher1.53 earned run average 359 innings pitched 29–13 record in 58 appearances (36 games started) * (2) Yomiuri Giants Pitcher1.83 earned run average 24 complete games 27–11 record in 55 appearances (35 games started) * Taiyo Whales Pitcher1.75 earned run average 262 innings pitched 21–10 record in 59 appearances (26 games started) * Yomiuri Giants Third baseman.353 batting average 28 home runs 32 doubles * Osaka Tigers Pitcher1.20 earned run average 366 innings pitched 25–14 record in 57 appearances (38 games started) * (2) Yomiuri Giants Third baseman.341 batting average 37 home runs 112 RBIs * Yomiuri Giants First baseman.320 batting average 55 home runs 119 RBIs * (2) Yomiuri Giants First baseman.322 batting average 42 home runs 104 RBIs * (3) Yomiuri Giants Third baseman.344 batting average 26 home runs 105 RBIs * (3) Yomiuri Giants First baseman.326 batting average 47 home runs 108 RBIs * (4) Yomiuri Giants Third baseman.318 batting average 39 home runs 125 RBIs * (4) Yomiuri Giants First baseman.345 batting average 44 home runs 125 RBIs * (5) Yomiuri Giants First baseman.325 batting average 47 home runs 93 RBIs Shigeo Nagashima* (5) Yomiuri Giants Third baseman.320 batting average 34 home runs 86 RBIs * Yomiuri Giants Pitcher2.91 earned run average 26 complete games 26–9 record in 48 appearances (34 games started) * (6) Yomiuri Giants First baseman.355 batting average 51 home runs 114 RBIs * (7) Yomiuri Giants First baseman.332 batting average 49 home runs 107 RBIs * Hiroshima Toyo Carp Outfielder.319 batting average 86 runs scored 84 RBIs * (8) Yomiuri Giants First baseman.325 batting average 49 home runs 123 RBIs * (9) Yomiuri Giants First baseman.324 batting average 50 home runs 124 RBIs * Yakult Swallows Outfielder.341 batting average 100 runs scored 71 RBIs Hiroshima Toyo Carp Relief pitcher2.67 earned run average 22 saves 9–5 record in 55 appearances * (2) Hiroshima Toyo Carp Outfielder.336 batting average 44 home runs 112 RBIs Yomiuri Giants Starting pitcher2.28 earned run average 20 complete games 20–6 record in 31 appearances (30 games started) Chunichi Dragons Catcher.282 batting average 18 home runs 47 RBIs * Yomiuri Giants Third baseman.302 batting average 32 home runs 103 RBIs * Hiroshima Toyo Carp Infielder.329 batting average 31 home runs 102 RBIs * Hanshin Tigers First baseman.350 batting average 54 home runs 134 RBIs * Hiroshima Toyo Carp Starting pitcher2.43 earned run average 17 complete games 18–4 record in 30 games started Yomiuri Giants Catcher.273 batting average 22 home runs 66 RBIs Chunichi Dragons Relief pitcher1.95 earned run average 37 saves 7–6 record in 61 appearances Yomiuri Giants Outfielder.378 batting average 72 RBIs 33 doubles * Yomiuri Giants Starting pitcher2.17 earned run average 19 complete games 20–5 record in 27 games started Hiroshima Toyo Carp Starting pitcher2.44 earned run average 240 innings pitched 17–9 record in 33 appearances (31 games started) Yakult Swallows Third baseman.331 batting average 87 RBIs 38 home runs * Yakult Swallows Catcher.308 batting average 64.4 caught stealing percentage 90 runs scored Yomiuri Giants Starting pitcher2.52 earned run average 185 strikeouts 14–11 record in 28 appearances (27 games started) Yakult Swallows First baseman.302 batting average 31 home runs 87 RBIs * Yomiuri Giants Outfielder.314 batting average 38 home runs 97 runs scored * (2) Yakult Swallows Catcher.322 batting average 32 doubles 86 RBIs * Yokohama BayStars Relief pitcher0.64 earned run average 45 saves 1–1 record in 51 appearances Chunichi Dragons Starting pitcher2.65 earned run average 203 innings pitched 19–7 record in 29 games started * (2) Yomiuri Giants Outfielder.316 batting average 42 home runs 108 RBIs Yakult Swallows First baseman.322 batting average 39 home runs 127 RBIs * (3) Yomiuri Giants Outfielder.334 batting average 50 home runs 107 RBIs Hanshin Tigers Starting pitcher2.80 earned run average 206 innings pitched 20–5 record in 29 games started Chunichi Dragons Starting pitcher3.32 earned run average 192 innings pitched 17–7 record in 27 games started * Hanshin Tigers Outfielder.327 batting average 40 home runs 120 runs scored Chunichi Dragons Outfielder.351 batting average 47 doubles 117 runs scored (2) Yomiuri Giants Third baseman.313 batting average 31 home runs 95 runs scored Yomiuri Giants Outfielder.319 batting average 45 home runs 125 RBIs (2) Yomiuri Giants Outfielder.322 batting average 31 home runs 103 RBIs Chunichi Dragons Outfielder.339 batting average 37 home runs 93 RBIs Chunichi Dragons Relief pitcher0.41 earned run average 45 holds 7–2 record in 79 appearances Yomiuri Giants Catcher.340 batting average 27 home runs 104 RBIs Tokyo Yakult Swallows Outfielder.330 batting average 60 home runs 131 RBIs Yomiuri Giants Starting pitcher2.33 earned run average 122 strikeouts 12–5 record in 23 games started Tokyo Yakult Swallows Second baseman.329 batting average 38 home runs 34 stolen bases Hiroshima Toyo Carp First baseman.300 batting average 19 home runs 101 RBIs Hiroshima Toyo Carp Outfielder.308 batting average 109 runs scored 92 RBIs (2) Hiroshima Toyo Carp Outfielder.306 batting average 39 home runs 97 RBIs Yomiuri Giants Shortstop.312 batting average 40 home runs 94 RBIs (2) Yomiuri Giants Pitcher14 wins 1.97 ERA 131 strikeouts Tokyo Yakult Swallows Third baseman39 HR 112 RBI 106 BB (2) Tokyo Yakult Swallows Third baseman56 HR 134 RBI .458 OBP Hanshin Tigers Pitcher 10 wins 1.75 ERA 137 strikeouts (3) Yomiuri Giants Pitcher 15 wins 1.67 ERA 111 strikeouts Hanshin Tigers Third baseman40 HR 102 RBI .924 OPS
Pacific League
Season Player Team Position Selected statistics Notes * Mainichi Orions Outfielder.335 batting average 43 home runs 105 RBIs * (3) Nankai Hawks Second baseman.311 batting average 21 doubles 58 RBIs Nankai Hawks Pitcher1.91 earned run average 104 strikeouts 19–7 record in 40 appearances (17 games started) Nankai Hawks Second baseman.318 batting average 19 home runs 77 RBIs * Nishitetsu Lions Outfielder.321 batting average 22 home runs 88 RBIs * Nankai Hawks Outfielder.310 batting average 42 stolen bases 75 RBIs * Nishitetsu Lions Third baseman.325 batting average 29 home runs 95 RBIs * Nishitetsu Lions Pitcher1.37 earned run average 373 innings pitched 35–6 record in 68 appearances (33 games started) * (2) Nishitetsu Lions Pitcher1.42 earned run average 373 innings pitched 33–10 record in 72 appearances (31 games started) * Nankai Hawks Pitcher1.40 earned run average 336 strikeouts 38–4 record in 69 appearances (35 games started) * Daimai Orions Outfielder.313 batting average 32 home runs 103 RBIs * Nankai Hawks Catcher.296 batting average 29 home runs 89 RBIs * Toei Flyers Outfielder.333 batting average 31 home runs 99 RBIs * (2) Nankai Hawks Catcher.291 batting average 52 home runs 135 RBIs Nankai Hawks Pitcher2.40 earned run average 172 strikeouts 26–7 record in 47 appearances (43 games started) * (3) Nankai Hawks Catcher.320 batting average 42 home runs 110 RBIs * (4) Nankai Hawks Catcher.312 batting average 34 home runs 97 RBIs Hankyu Braves Pitcher1.75 earned run average 17 complete games 20–10 record in 43 appearances (29 games started) * Hankyu Braves Pitcher 2.79 earned run average 22 complete games 29–13 record in 63 appearances (43 games started) Hankyu Braves Outfielder.316 batting average 41 home runs 101 RBIs Lotte Orions Pitcher2.53 earned run average 20 complete games 21–10 record in 42 appearances (35 games started) (2) Hankyu Braves Outfielder.317 batting average 40 home runs 114 RBIs * Hankyu Braves Outfielder.301 batting average 106 stolen bases 99 runs * (5) Nankai Hawks Catcher.309 batting average 28 stolen bases 96 RBIs Lotte Orions Pitcher2.90 earned run average 138 strikeouts