# Nippon Professional Baseball Most Valuable Player Award

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award (最優秀選手, Saiyūshūsenshu) 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 2023, are Shōki Murakami, from the Central League, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, from the Pacific League. 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

| Position players | RBIs | Runs batted in |
| Position players | AVG | Batting average |
| Pitchers | Record | Record of decisions (tie games are omitted) |
| Pitchers | Saves | Number of saves |
| Pitchers | 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 |
| 1937 (Spring) | Eiji Sawamura* | Tokyo Kyojin | Pitcher | 0.81 earned run average 196 strikeouts 24–4 record in 30 appearances (24 games started) | |
| 1937 (Fall) | Harris McGalliard | Korakuen Eagles | Catcher | .310 batting average 24 runs scored 17 doubles | |
| 1938 (Spring) | Hisanori Karita* | Tokyo Senators | Second baseman | .299 batting average 5 home runs 11 doubles | |
| 1938 (Fall) | Haruyasu Nakajima* | Tokyo Kyojin | Outfielder | .361 batting average 10 home runs 38 RBIs | |
| 1939 | Victor Starffin* | Tokyo Kyojin | Pitcher | 282 strikeouts 38 complete games 42–15 record in 68 appearances (41 games started) | |
| 1940 | Victor Starffin* (2) | Tokyo Kyojin | Pitcher | 0.97 earned run average 16 shutouts 38–12 record in 55 appearances (42 games started) | |
| 1941 | Tetsuharu Kawakami* | Tokyo Kyojin | First baseman | .310 batting average 21 doubles 57 RBIs | |
| 1942 | Shigeru Mizuhara* | Tokyo Kyojin | Second baseman | .225 batting average 10 doubles 16 RBIs | |
| 1943 | Shosei Go* | Tokyo Kyojin | Outfielder | .300 batting average 68 runs scored 54 stolen bases | |
| 1944 | Tadashi Wakabayashi* | Hanshin Baseball Club | Pitcher | 1.56 earned run average 24 complete games 22–4 record in 31 appearances (24 games started) | |
| 1945 | Season canceled | Season canceled | Season canceled | Season canceled | Season canceled |
| 1946 | Kazuto Tsuruoka* | Great Ring | Infielder | .314 batting average 95 RBIs 32 stolen bases | |
| 1947 | Tadashi Wakabayashi* (2) | Osaka Tigers | Pitcher | 2.09 earned run average 10 shutouts 26–12 record in 43 appearances (35 games started) | |
| 1948 | Kazuto Tsuruoka* (2) | Nankai Hawks | Third baseman | .305 batting average 68 RBIs 23 stolen bases | |
| 1949 | Fumio Fujimura* | 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 |
| 1950 | Makoto Kozuru* | Shochiku Robins | Outfielder | .355 batting average 51 home runs 161 RBIs |
| 1951 | Tetsuharu Kawakami* (2) | Yomiuri Giants | First baseman | .377 batting average 27 doubles 81 RBIs |
| 1952 | Takehiko Bessho* | Yomiuri Giants | Pitcher | 1.94 earned run average 3711⁄3 innings pitched 33–13 record in 52 appearances (41 games started) |
| 1953 | Takumi Otomo | Yomiuri Giants | Pitcher | 1.86 earned run average 22 complete games 27–6 record in 43 appearances (29 games started) |
| 1954 | Shigeru Sugishita* | Chunichi Dragons | Pitcher | 1.39 earned run average 3951⁄3 innings pitched 32–12 record in 63 appearances (32 games started) |
| 1955 | Tetsuharu Kawakami* (3) | Yomiuri Giants | First baseman | .338 batting average 12 home runs 79 RBIs |
| 1956 | Takehiko Bessho* (2) | Yomiuri Giants | Pitcher | 1.93 earned run average 26 complete games 27–15 record in 54 appearances (35 games started) |
| 1957 | Wally Yonamine* | Yomiuri Giants | Outfielder | .343 batting average 12 home runs 48 RBIs |
| 1958 | Motoshi Fujita* | Yomiuri Giants | Pitcher | 1.53 earned run average 359 innings pitched 29–13 record in 58 appearances (36 games started) |
| 1959 | Motoshi Fujita* (2) | Yomiuri Giants | Pitcher | 1.83 earned run average 24 complete games 27–11 record in 55 appearances (35 games started) |
| 1960 | Noboru Akiyama* | Taiyo Whales | Pitcher | 1.75 earned run average 2621⁄3 innings pitched 21–10 record in 59 appearances (26 games started) |
| 1961 | Shigeo Nagashima* | Yomiuri Giants | Third baseman | .353 batting average 28 home runs 32 doubles |
| 1962 | Minoru Murayama* | Osaka Tigers | Pitcher | 1.20 earned run average 3661⁄3 innings pitched 25–14 record in 57 appearances (38 games started) |
| 1963 | Shigeo Nagashima* (2) | Yomiuri Giants | Third baseman | .341 batting average 37 home runs 112 RBIs |
| 1964 | Sadaharu Oh* | Yomiuri Giants | First baseman | .320 batting average 55 home runs 119 RBIs |
| 1965 | Sadaharu Oh* (2) | Yomiuri Giants | First baseman | .322 batting average 42 home runs 104 RBIs |
| 1966 | Shigeo Nagashima* (3) | Yomiuri Giants | Third baseman | .344 batting average 26 home runs 105 RBIs |
| 1967 | Sadaharu Oh* (3) | Yomiuri Giants | First baseman | .326 batting average 47 home runs 108 RBIs |
| 1968 | Shigeo Nagashima* (4) | Yomiuri Giants | Third baseman | .318 batting average 39 home runs 125 RBIs |
| 1969 | Sadaharu Oh* (4) | Yomiuri Giants | First baseman | .345 batting average 44 home runs 125 RBIs |
| 1970 | Sadaharu Oh* (5) | Yomiuri Giants | First baseman | .325 batting average 47 home runs 93 RBIs |
| 1971 | Shigeo Nagashima* (5) | Yomiuri Giants | Third baseman | .320 batting average 34 home runs 86 RBIs |
| 1972 | Tsuneo Horiuchi* | Yomiuri Giants | Pitcher | 2.91 earned run average 26 complete games 26–9 record in 48 appearances (34 games started) |
| 1973 | Sadaharu Oh* (6) | Yomiuri Giants | First baseman | .355 batting average 51 home runs 114 RBIs |
| 1974 | Sadaharu Oh* (7) | Yomiuri Giants | First baseman | .332 batting average 49 home runs 107 RBIs |
| 1975 | Koji Yamamoto* | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | Outfielder | .319 batting average 86 runs scored 84 RBIs |
| 1976 | Sadaharu Oh* (8) | Yomiuri Giants | First baseman | .325 batting average 49 home runs 123 RBIs |
| 1977 | Sadaharu Oh* (9) | Yomiuri Giants | First baseman | .324 batting average 50 home runs 124 RBIs |
| 1978 | Tsutomu Wakamatsu* | Yakult Swallows | Outfielder | .341 batting average 100 runs scored 71 RBIs |
| 1979 | Yutaka Enatsu | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | Relief pitcher | 2.67 earned run average 22 saves 9–5 record in 55 appearances |
| 1980 | Koji Yamamoto* (2) | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | Outfielder | .336 batting average 44 home runs 112 RBIs |
| 1981 | Suguru Egawa | Yomiuri Giants | Starting pitcher | 2.28 earned run average 20 complete games 20–6 record in 31 appearances (30 games started) |
| 1982 | Takayoshi Nakao | Chunichi Dragons | Catcher | .282 batting average 18 home runs 47 RBIs |
| 1983 | Tatsunori Hara* | Yomiuri Giants | Third baseman | .302 batting average 32 home runs 103 RBIs |
| 1984 | Sachio Kinugasa* | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | Infielder | .329 batting average 31 home runs 102 RBIs |
| 1985 | Randy Bass* | Hanshin Tigers | First baseman | .350 batting average 54 home runs 134 RBIs |
| 1986 | Manabu Kitabeppu* | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | Starting pitcher | 2.43 earned run average 17 complete games 18–4 record in 30 games started |
| 1987 | Kazuhiro Yamakura | Yomiuri Giants | Catcher | .273 batting average 22 home runs 66 RBIs |
| 1988 | Genji Kaku | Chunichi Dragons | Relief pitcher | 1.95 earned run average 37 saves 7–6 record in 61 appearances |
| 1989 | Warren Cromartie | Yomiuri Giants | Outfielder | .378 batting average 72 RBIs 33 doubles |
| 1990 | Masaki Saito* | Yomiuri Giants | Starting pitcher | 2.17 earned run average 19 complete games 20–5 record in 27 games started |
| 1991 | Shinji Sasaoka | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | Starting pitcher | 2.44 earned run average 240 innings pitched 17–9 record in 33 appearances (31 games started) |
| 1992 | Jack Howell | Yakult Swallows | Third baseman | .331 batting average 87 RBIs 38 home runs |
| 1993 | Atsuya Furuta* | Yakult Swallows | Catcher | .308 batting average 64.4 caught stealing percentage 90 runs scored |
| 1994 | Masumi Kuwata | Yomiuri Giants | Starting pitcher | 2.52 earned run average 185 strikeouts 14–11 record in 28 appearances (27 games started) |
| 1995 | Tom O'Malley | Yakult Swallows | First baseman | .302 batting average 31 home runs 87 RBIs |
| 1996 | Hideki Matsui* | Yomiuri Giants | Outfielder | .314 batting average 38 home runs 97 runs scored |
| 1997 | Atsuya Furuta* (2) | Yakult Swallows | Catcher | .322 batting average 32 doubles 86 RBIs |
| 1998 | Kazuhiro Sasaki* | Yokohama BayStars | Relief pitcher | 0.64 earned run average 45 saves 1–1 record in 51 appearances |
| 1999 | Shigeki Noguchi | Chunichi Dragons | Starting pitcher | 2.65 earned run average 2032⁄3 innings pitched 19–7 record in 29 games started |
| 2000 | Hideki Matsui* (2) | Yomiuri Giants | Outfielder | .316 batting average 42 home runs 108 RBIs |
| 2001 | Roberto Petagine | Yakult Swallows | First baseman | .322 batting average 39 home runs 127 RBIs |
| 2002 | Hideki Matsui* (3) | Yomiuri Giants | Outfielder | .334 batting average 50 home runs 107 RBIs |
| 2003 | Kei Igawa | Hanshin Tigers | Starting pitcher | 2.80 earned run average 206 innings pitched 20–5 record in 29 games started |
| 2004 | Kenshin Kawakami | Chunichi Dragons | Starting pitcher | 3.32 earned run average 1921⁄3 innings pitched 17–7 record in 27 games started |
| 2005 | Tomoaki Kanemoto* | Hanshin Tigers | Outfielder | .327 batting average 40 home runs 120 runs scored |
| 2006 | Kosuke Fukudome | Chunichi Dragons | Outfielder | .351 batting average 47 doubles 117 runs scored |
| 2007 | Michihiro Ogasawara (2) | Yomiuri Giants | Third baseman | .313 batting average 31 home runs 95 runs scored |
| 2008 | Alex Ramírez | Yomiuri Giants | Outfielder | .319 batting average 45 home runs 125 RBIs |
| 2009 | Alex Ramírez (2) | Yomiuri Giants | Outfielder | .322 batting average 31 home runs 103 RBIs |
| 2010 | Kazuhiro Wada | Chunichi Dragons | Outfielder | .339 batting average 37 home runs 93 RBIs |
| 2011 | Takuya Asao | Chunichi Dragons | Relief pitcher | 0.41 earned run average 45 holds 7–2 record in 79 appearances |
| 2012 | Shinnosuke Abe | Yomiuri Giants | Catcher | .340 batting average 27 home runs 104 RBIs |
| 2013 | Wladimir Balentien | Tokyo Yakult Swallows | Outfielder | .330 batting average 60 home runs 131 RBIs |
| 2014 | Tomoyuki Sugano | Yomiuri Giants | Starting pitcher | 2.33 earned run average 122 strikeouts 12–5 record in 23 games started |
| 2015 | Tetsuto Yamada | Tokyo Yakult Swallows | Second baseman | .329 batting average 38 home runs 34 stolen bases |
| 2016 | Takahiro Arai | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | First baseman | .300 batting average 19 home runs 101 RBIs |
| 2017 | Yoshihiro Maru | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | Outfielder | .308 batting average 109 runs scored 92 RBIs |
| 2018 | Yoshihiro Maru (2) | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | Outfielder | .306 batting average 39 home runs 97 RBIs |
| 2019 | Hayato Sakamoto | Yomiuri Giants | Shortstop | .312 batting average 40 home runs 94 RBIs |
| 2020 | Tomoyuki Sugano (2) | Yomiuri Giants | Pitcher | 14 wins 1.97 ERA 131 strikeouts |
| 2021 | Munetaka Murakami | Tokyo Yakult Swallows | Third baseman | 39 HR 112 RBI 106 BB |
| 2022 | Munetaka Murakami (2) | Tokyo Yakult Swallows | Third baseman | 56 HR 134 RBI .458 OBP |
| 2023 | Shōki Murakami | Hanshin Tigers | Pitcher | 10 wins 1.75 ERA 137 strikeouts |
| 2024 | Tomoyuki Sugano (3) | Yomiuri Giants | Pitcher | 15 wins 1.67 ERA 111 strikeouts |

#### Pacific League

| Season | Player | Team | Position | Selected statistics |
| 1950 | Kaoru Betto* | Mainichi Orions | Outfielder | .335 batting average 43 home runs 105 RBIs |
| 1951 | Kazuto Tsuruoka* (3) | Nankai Hawks | Second baseman | .311 batting average 21 doubles 58 RBIs |
| 1952 | Susumu Yuki | Nankai Hawks | Pitcher | 1.91 earned run average 104 strikeouts 19–7 record in 40 appearances (17 games started) |
| 1953 | Isami Okamoto | Nankai Hawks | Second baseman | .318 batting average 19 home runs 77 RBIs |
| 1954 | Hiroshi Oshita* | Nishitetsu Lions | Outfielder | .321 batting average 22 home runs 88 RBIs |
| 1955 | Tokuji Iida* | Nankai Hawks | Outfielder | .310 batting average 42 stolen bases 75 RBIs |
| 1956 | Futoshi Nakanishi* | Nishitetsu Lions | Third baseman | .325 batting average 29 home runs 95 RBIs |
| 1957 | Kazuhisa Inao* | Nishitetsu Lions | Pitcher | 1.37 earned run average 3732⁄3 innings pitched 35–6 record in 68 appearances (33 games started) |
| 1958 | Kazuhisa Inao* (2) | Nishitetsu Lions | Pitcher | 1.42 earned run average 373 innings pitched 33–10 record in 72 appearances (31 games started) |
| 1959 | Tadashi Sugiura* | Nankai Hawks | Pitcher | 1.40 earned run average 336 strikeouts 38–4 record in 69 appearances (35 games started) |
| 1960 | Kazuhiro Yamauchi* | Daimai Orions | Outfielder | .313 batting average 32 home runs 103 RBIs |
| 1961 | Katsuya Nomura* | Nankai Hawks | Catcher | .296 batting average 29 home runs 89 RBIs |
| 1962 | Isao Harimoto* | Toei Flyers | Outfielder | .333 batting average 31 home runs 99 RBIs |
| 1963 | Katsuya Nomura* (2) | Nankai Hawks | Catcher | .291 batting average 52 home runs 135 RBIs |
| 1964 | Joe Stanka | Nankai Hawks | Pitcher | 2.40 earned run average 172 strikeouts 26–7 record in 47 appearances (43 games started) |
| 1965 | Katsuya Nomura* (3) | Nankai Hawks | Catcher | .320 batting average 42 home runs 110 RBIs |
| 1966 | Katsuya Nomura* (4) | Nankai Hawks | Catcher | .312 batting average 34 home runs 97 RBIs |
| 1967 | Mitsuhiro Adachi | Hankyu Braves | Pitcher | 1.75 earned run average 17 complete games 20–10 record in 43 appearances (29 games started) |
| 1968 | Tetsuya Yoneda* | Hankyu Braves | Pitcher | 2.79 earned run average 22 complete games 29–13 record in 63 appearances (43 games started) |
| 1969 | Tokuji Nagaike | Hankyu Braves | Outfielder | .316 batting average 41 home runs 101 RBIs |
| 1970 | Masaaki Kitaru | Lotte Orions | Pitcher | 2.53 earned run average 20 complete games 21–10 record in 42 appearances (35 games started) |
| 1971 | Tokuji Nagaike (2) | Hankyu Braves | Outfielder | .317 batting average 40 home runs 114 RBIs |
| 1972 | Yutaka Fukumoto* | Hankyu Braves | Outfielder | .301 batting average 106 stolen bases 99 runs |
| 1973 | Katsuya Nomura* (5) | Nankai Hawks | Catcher | .309 batting average 28 stolen bases 96 RBIs |
| 1974 | Tomehiro Kaneda | Lotte Orions | Pitcher | 2.90 earned run average 138 strikeouts 16–7 record in 36 appearances (29 games started) |
| 1975 | Hideji Kato | Hankyu Braves | First baseman | .309 batting average 32 home runs 97 RBIs |
| 1976 | Hisashi Yamada* | Hankyu Braves | Pitcher | 2.39 earned run average 23 complete games 26–7 record in 39 appearances (27 games started) |
| 1977 | Hisashi Yamada* (2) | Hankyu Braves | Pitcher | 2.28 earned run average 20 complete games 16–10 record in 44 appearances (25 games started) |
| 1978 | Hisashi Yamada* (3) | Hankyu Braves | Pitcher | 2.66 earned run average 20 complete games 18–4 record in 35 appearances (25 games started) |
| 1979 | Charlie Manuel | Kintetsu Buffaloes | Outfielder | .324 batting average 37 home runs 94 RBIs |
| 1980 | Isamu Kida | Nippon Ham Fighters | Pitcher | 2.28 earned run average 225 strikeouts 22–8 record in 40 appearances (26 games started) |
| 1981 | Yutaka Enatsu (2) | Nippon Ham Fighters | Pitcher | 2.82 earned run average 25 saves 3–6 record in 45 appearances |
| 1982 | Hiromitsu Ochiai* | Lotte Orions | Second baseman | .325 batting average 32 home runs 99 RBIs |
| 1983 | Osamu Higashio* | Seibu Lions | Pitcher | 2.92 earned run average 213 innings pitched 18–9 record in 32 appearances (29 games started) |
| 1984 | Greg Wells | Hankyu Braves | First baseman | .355 batting average 37 home runs 130 RBIs |
| 1985 | Hiromitsu Ochiai* (2) | Lotte Orions | Infielder | .367 batting average 52 home runs 146 RBIs |
| 1986 | Hiromichi Ishige | Seibu Lions | Shortstop | .329 batting average 91 runs 27 home runs |
| 1987 | Osamu Higashio* (2) | Seibu Lions | Starting pitcher | 3.27 earned run average 17 complete games 15–9 record in 28 appearances (27 games started) |
| 1988 | Hiromitsu Kadota* | Nankai Hawks | Outfielder | .311 batting average 44 home runs 125 RBIs |
| 1989 | Ralph Bryant | Kintetsu Buffaloes | Outfielder | .283 batting average 49 home runs 121 RBIs |
| 1990 | Hideo Nomo* | Kintetsu Buffaloes | Starting pitcher | 2.91 earned run average 235 innings pitched 18–8 record in 29 appearances (27 games started) |
| 1991 | Taigen Kaku | Seibu Lions | Starting pitcher | 2.59 earned run average 12 complete games 15–6 record in 24 appearances (23 games started) |
| 1992 | Takehiro Ishii | Seibu Lions | Pitcher | 1.94 earned run average 1481⁄3 innings pitched 15–3 record in 27 appearances (19 games started) |
| 1993 | Kimiyasu Kudo* | Seibu Lions | Starting pitcher | 2.06 earned run average 170 innings pitched 15–3 record in 24 appearances (23 games started) |
| 1994 | Ichiro Suzuki | Orix BlueWave | Outfielder | .385 batting average 41 doubles 111 runs |
| 1995 | Ichiro Suzuki (2) | Orix BlueWave | Outfielder | .342 batting average 49 stolen bases 104 runs |
| 1996 | Ichiro Suzuki (3) | Orix BlueWave | Outfielder | .356 batting average 35 stolen bases 104 runs |
| 1997 | Fumiya Nishiguchi | Seibu Lions | Pitcher | 3.12 earned run average 2072⁄3 innings pitched 15–5 record in 32 appearances (26 games started) |
| 1998 | Kazuo Matsui | Seibu Lions | Shortstop | .311 batting average 92 runs 38 doubles |
| 1999 | Kimiyasu Kudo* (2) | Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | Starting pitcher | 2.38 earned run average 1961⁄3 innings pitched 11–7 record in 26 games started |
| 2000 | Nobuhiko Matsunaka | Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | First baseman | .312 batting average 33 home runs 106 RBIs |
| 2001 | Tuffy Rhodes | Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes | Outfielder | .327 batting average 55 home runs 137 runs |
| 2002 | Alex Cabrera | Seibu Lions | First baseman | .336 batting average 55 home runs 115 RBIs |
| 2003 | Kenji Johjima | Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | Catcher | .330 batting average 34 home runs 119 RBIs |
| 2004 | Nobuhiko Matsunaka (2) | Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | First baseman | .358 batting average 44 home runs 120 RBIs |
| 2005 | Toshiya Sugiuchi | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | Starting pitcher | 2.11 earned run average 218 strikeouts 18–4 record in 26 games started |
| 2006 | Michihiro Ogasawara | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | First baseman | .313 batting average 32 home runs 100 RBIs |
| 2007 | Yu Darvish | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | Starting pitcher | 1.82 earned run average 210 strikeouts 15–5 record in 26 games started |
| 2008 | Hisashi Iwakuma | Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | Starting pitcher | 1.87 earned run average 2012⁄3 innings pitched 21–4 record in 28 games started |
| 2009 | Yu Darvish (2) | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | Pitcher | 1.73 earned run average 8 complete games 15–5 record in 23 games started |
| 2010 | Tsuyoshi Wada | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | Starting pitcher | 3.14 earned run average 169 strikeouts 17–8 record in 26 games started |
| 2011 | Seiichi Uchikawa | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | First baseman | .338 batting average 12 home runs 74 RBIs |
| 2012 | Mitsuo Yoshikawa | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | Starting pitcher | 1.71 earned run average 158 strikeouts 14–5 record in 25 games started |
| 2013 | Masahiro Tanaka | Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | Starting pitcher | 1.71 earned run average 212 innings pitched 24–0 record in 28 appearances (27 games started) |
| 2014 | Chihiro Kaneko | Orix Buffaloes | Pitcher | 1.98 earned run average 199 strikeouts 16–5 record in 26 games started |
| 2015 | Yuki Yanagita | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | Outfielder | .363 batting average 34 home runs 110 runs |
| 2016 | Shohei Ohtani | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | Starting pitcher/Designated hitter | .322 batting average 1.86 earned run average 10–4 record in 21 appearances (20 games started) |
| 2017 | Dennis Sarfate | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | Pitcher | 1.09 earned run average 54 saves 2–2 record in 66 appearances |
| 2018 | Hotaka Yamakawa | Saitama Seibu Lions | First baseman | .281 batting average 47 home runs 124 RBIs |
| 2019 | Tomoya Mori | Saitama Seibu Lions | Catcher | .329 batting average 23 home runs 105 RBIs |
| 2020 | Yuki Yanagita (2) | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | Outfielder | .342 batting average 29 home runs 86 RBIs |
| 2021 | Yoshinobu Yamamoto | Orix Buffaloes | Pitcher | 18-5 record 206 K 193.2 IP 1.39 ERA |
| 2022 | Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2) | Orix Buffaloes | Pitcher | 15-5 record 193 IP 1.68 ERA |
| 2023 | Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3) | Orix Buffaloes | Pitcher | 16-6 record 164 IP 1.69 ERA |
| 2024 | Kensuke Kondoh | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | Outfielder | .314 batting average 19 Home runs 72 Runs batted in |

### Multiple winners

There have been 22 players who have won the award multiple times. Sadaharu Oh currently holds the record for the most awards won, with nine. Hisashi Yamada (1976–1978) and Ichiro Suzuki (1994–1996) share the record for the most consecutive awards won. Yutaka Enatsu and Michihiro Ogasawara are the only players to have won the award in both the Central League and Pacific League. Alex Ramírez is the only non-Japanese player receive the award multiple times after the formation of two league system.
| Player | League | # of Awards | Seasons |
| Sadaharu Oh* | Central | 9 | 1964, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977 |
| Shigeo Nagashima* | Central | 5 | 1961, 1963, 1966, 1968, 1971 |
| Katsuya Nomura* | Pacific | 5 | 1961, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1973 |
| Kazuto Yamamoto* | JBL/Pacific | 3 | 1946, 1948, 1951 |
| Tetsuharu Kawakami* | JBL/Central | 3 | 1941, 1951, 1955 |
| Hisashi Yamada* | Pacific | 3 | 1976, 1977, 1978 |
| Ichiro Suzuki | Pacific | 3 | 1994, 1995, 1996 |
| Hideki Matsui | Central | 3 | 1996, 2000, 2002 |
| Tomoyuki Sugano | Central | 3 | 2014, 2020, 2024 |
| Yoshinobu Yamamoto | Pacific | 3 | 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Victor Starffin* | JBL | 2 | 1939, 1940 |
| Tadashi Wakabayashi* | JBL | 2 | 1944, 1947 |
| Takehiko Bessho* | Central | 2 | 1952, 1956 |
| Kazuhisa Inao* | Pacific | 2 | 1957, 1958 |
| Motoshi Fujita* | Central | 2 | 1958, 1959 |
| Tokuji Nagaike | Pacific | 2 | 1969, 1971 |
| Koji Yamamoto* | Central | 2 | 1975, 1980 |
| Yutaka Enatsu | Both | 2 | 1979, 1981 |
| Hiromitsu Ochiai | Pacific | 2 | 1982, 1985 |
| Osamu Higashio | Pacific | 2 | 1983, 1987 |
| Atsuya Furuta | Central | 2 | 1993, 1997 |
| Kimiyasu Kudo | Pacific | 2 | 1993, 1999 |
| Nobuhiko Matsunaka | Pacific | 2 | 2000, 2004 |
| Michihiro Ogasawara | Both | 2 | 2006, 2007 |
| Yu Darvish | Pacific | 2 | 2007, 2009 |
| Alex Ramírez | Central | 2 | 2008, 2009 |
| Yoshihiro Maru | Central | 2 | 2017, 2018 |
| Yuki Yanagita | Pacific | 2 | 2015, 2020 |
| Munetaka Murakami | Central | 2 | 2021, 2022 |