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The MLB Most Valuable Player awards for the 2025 season are official, and while one league was a close race, it wasn’t close to the other.
After winning his second World Series in as many years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani also has two consecutive NL MVP awards under his belt after a unanimous vote from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
The Japanese two-way superstar was named the 2025 NL MVP, giving him four total in his MLB career. He won his first two games in the American League with the Los Angeles Angels. In fact, he has won an MVP award in each of the last three seasons, having won the 2023 award in his final year as an Angels star.
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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, right, talks with interpreter Ippei Mizuhara during the ninth inning of an opening baseball game against the San Diego Padres at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Now Ohtani only has Barry Bonds to win the most MVP awards in MLB history. Bonds has won seven NL MVPs, a feat some still think is untouchable. Ohtani was tied with 10 other players with three in their career, but the 31-year-old is now in a new position and only looks up to Bonds.
Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies and Juan Soto of the New York Mets were the two remaining NL finalists. Schwarber received 23 second-place votes to Soto’s four.
Ohtani, a five-time All-Star now, led the National League in runs scored (146), slugging percentage (.622) and OPS (1.024), while smashing 55 home runs with 102 RBIs and a .282 average. Ohtani also had a .392 on-base percentage with 20 intentional walks, which also led the NL.
And after not being able to pitch in 2024, Ohtani was back on the mound this season with a 2.87 ERA over 14 starts (47) innings with 62 strikeouts and nine walks.
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Of course, the award is strictly based on the regular season, but Ohtani played a major role in maintaining the Dodgers’ World Series title in an epic seven-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. In 17 playoff games, Ohtani slashed .265/.405/.691 with eight home runs, three doubles and 14 RBIs.
While it was virtually impossible for Ohtani to be named NL MVP, one of baseball’s biggest debates revolved around the AL MVP: Was it going to be New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge going back-to-back, or would Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh’s dream season end with him in his grasp?
Baseball writers chose Judge.
Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees walks to first after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning during a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Judge received 17 first-place votes to Raleigh’s 13, which the BBWAA says is the closest MVP race since 2019.
Judge has now won his third MVP of his career and three of the last four in the American League.
While Raleigh had Judge beat in the home run department, the Yankees slugger won his first career batting title, leading the MLB with a .331 average. He also led all MLB with a .457 on-base percentage, .688 slugging percentage, 1.144 OPS and was the American League leader in runs scored with 137.
Judge had 114 RBIs and was intentionally walked 36 times, shattering Ohtani’s NL-leading total.
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This was the seventh All-Star season for Judge, who continues to be arguably the best pure hitter in MLB. Unfortunately for him and the Pinstripes, they couldn’t make the run that Ohtani and the Dodgers made. The Yankees were defeated by the AL pennant-winning Blue Jays in the ALDS, although Judge had a memorable moment in Game 3 with a hit home run off the foul pole to keep the Yankees’ season alive.
Raleigh was one of baseball’s biggest stories of the season, as it seemed like Raleigh couldn’t be stopped — and couldn’t stop breaking records in the process.
Raleigh hit 60 home runs, which not only led the MLB, but also set the league record for a catcher, switch hitter and Mariners player. He finished with 125 RBIs while slashing .247/.359/.948 in 159 games.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh reacts after hitting his 60th home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Seattle, Washington, September 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Yes, Raleigh has played in all but three games this season, which includes 128 games at the league’s most demanding position at receiver.
Those who picked Raleigh during the season pointed out how he was consistently breaking records for a position that is usually overlooked for this type of award. He clearly played a role in the Mariners winning the AL West title for the first time since 2001, and they also made quite a run in the playoffs, before finally succumbing to the Blue Jays in Game 7.
