MLB MVP Awards Announced for 2025
The 2025 MLB Most Valuable Player awards have been officially declared, and there’s a notable distinction between the two leagues. Shohei Ohtani, who recently led the Los Angeles Dodgers to a second consecutive World Series, has been named the National League MVP. This accolade was given in a unanimous decision by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
This two-way star from Japan has now secured the National League MVP title four times in his career, having previously won in the American League with the Los Angeles Angels. Notably, Ohtani has been voted MVP for the last three seasons, including 2023 in what would be his last year with the Angels.
Currently, Ohtani is second only to Barry Bonds, who holds the record for the most MVP awards in MLB history with seven. Some believe Ohtani still has a chance to chase that record, as he is currently tied with ten other players for three MVP awards, while his eyes are now set solely on Bonds.
The other finalists for the National League MVP were Kyle Schwarber from the Philadelphia Phillies and Juan Soto of the New York Mets. Schwarber received 23 votes for second place compared to Soto’s four.
Ohtani had a standout season, leading the National League in runs scored with 146, slugging percentage at .622, and OPS at 1.024. He also recorded an impressive 55 home runs, 102 RBIs, and a .282 batting average, along with a .392 on-base percentage that also topped the league. His 20 intentional walks were a testament to his offensive prowess.
While he didn’t pitch in 2024, Ohtani made his return to the mound this season, achieving a 2.87 ERA with 62 strikeouts and just nine walks over 14 starts spanning 47 innings.
It’s important to note that Ohtani’s win is based solely on regular-season performance, although he was instrumental in the Dodgers defending their World Series title in a thrilling seven-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Throughout the postseason, he posted a .265 batting average with eight home runs, three doubles, and 14 RBIs over 17 games.
Interestingly, the buzz in baseball circles wasn’t just about Ohtani. There was significant attention on the American League MVP race—would Aaron Judge, the captain of the New York Yankees, secure back-to-back awards or would Cal Lowry, the exceptional switch-hitting catcher for the Seattle Mariners, make history?
Ultimately, the baseball writers chose Judge. He received 17 first-place votes, while Lowry came in with 13—making it one of the closest MVP races since 2019. This marks Judge’s third career MVP award and the third time he has claimed the honor in the last four seasons.
Although Lowry led in home runs, Judge topped the entire MLB with a .331 batting average, earning his first career batting title. He also led the league in on-base percentage at .457, slugging percentage at .688, and OPS at 1.144, along with 137 RBIs. His own 114 RBIs and his tendency to draw intentional walks exceeded Ohtani’s league-leading total.
Now in his seventh All-Star season, Judge continues to be recognized as one of the best hitters in the game. However, his team, the Yankees, fell short against the Blue Jays in the AL Division Series. Judge did manage to provide a memorable highlight, hitting a crucial home run in Game 3 that kept the Yankees’ season alive for a time.
On the other side, Lowry’s season became a sensational narrative, as he not only topped the league with 60 home runs but also set records for a catcher and a switch-hitter, along with becoming a significant contributor to the Mariners’ success this season. He recorded a .247 batting average with 125 RBIs over 159 games.
Lowry played in nearly every game this season, including 128 as a catcher—the most taxing position in baseball. Advocates for Lowry noted how he consistently broke records that often go unrecognized in award discussions, and while he helped the Mariners secure their first AL West title since 2001, they ultimately succumbed to the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the playoffs.
