Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani first to top MLB jersey sales at end of 4 straight seasons

NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani has become the first player to lead Major League Baseball jersey sales at the end of four straight seasons since the sport started tracking figures in 2010, among four players in the top 20 on the two-time World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was second for the second straight season, MLB and the players' association affiliate MLB Players, Inc. said Friday. Judge finished third in 2023 and '24.

Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs was third, up from 16th at the end of last season, and Atlanta's Ronald Acuña Jr. was fourth, an increase from 11th last year.

San Diego's Fernando Tatis Jr. was fifth, followed by the Dodgers' Freddie Freeman, Philadelphia's Bryce Harper, the Dodgers' Mookie Betts and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and the New York Mets' Juan Soto.

Munetaka Murakami of the Chicago White Sox was 20th, and he joined with Ohtani and Yamamoto to become the first trio of Japanese players in the top 20.

Texas' Corey Seager was 11th, followed by Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Boston's Adley Rutschman, the Phillies' Kyle Schwarber, Pittsburgh's Paul Skenes, Seattle's Cal Raleigh, Cincinnati's Elly De La Cruz, San Diego's Jackson Merrill and Arizona's Nolan Arenado.

MLB’s list tracked sales on Fanatics’ sites, including MLBShop.com, since opening day.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong jokes with Miami Marlins players in the dugout during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge celebrates while running the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani heads to first for a single during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

ROGERS, Ark. (AP) — Yuna Nishimura had a big finish to her front and back nines Friday for an 8-under 63 that carried her to a one-shot lead in the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship as the LPGA Tour got back to its regular schedule following the Solheim Cup.

Nishimura, a six-time winner on the Japan LPGA now in her fourth year on the LPGA Tour, closed out the front nine at Pinnacle Country Club with three straight birdies. Even better was the finish, birdie-eagle for a one-shot lead over Yu Liu.

“I really went for the last putt. I wanted to make it so I kind of went aggressively and it went in, so I’m hoping it’s going to continue tomorrow,” Nishimura said.

Europe once again had the upper hand among the Solheim Cup players, even if there won't be a score to settle for two more years. Celine Boutier and Charley Hull each had a 65, while Lottie Woad had a 66. The eight players from Europe's winning Solheim Cup team all broke par.

Auston Kim and Andrea Lee had the top scores from the U.S. team at 67.

“I feel like you’re in bit of a downer because obviously the adrenaline, and then last week was a crash,” Hull said. “This week actually feels nice to come out on the golf course with not a whole load of nerves that the Solheim Cup produces.”

Hull also decided to change from blonde to brunette after the Solheim Cup, and she has gone from loving it to hating it to loving it again.

“I will go back to blonde hopefully just after Christmas,” she said.

The tournament is one of two 54-hole events on the LPGA schedule, leaving Saturday for Nishimura or anyone else to get some separation.

There were 25 players at 66 or lower, and 99 players in the 144-player field broke par.

See AP’s full golf coverage here

Charley Hull of Europe plays from a bunker near the 8th green during the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)