Another MLB season has come and gone. While we still don’t know who’s going to take home the Commissioner’s Trophy, we can already look back at some incredible individual performances and recognize the players who will be taking home top honors in their respective leagues.
NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani
No surprise here—the unicorn has done it again. Shohei Ohtani is on track for his second straight NL MVP and his fourth MVP award in the last five years. This season, he made his presence felt on both sides of the ball for the Dodgers.
Last year, he introduced the “50/50 club,” and this year, he did it again—this time in a different way. Ohtani is the first player in history to tally 50 home runs and 50 strikeouts in the same season. He’s currently slashing .280/.391/.619, leading the National League in slugging, OPS, and OPS+.
On the mound, Ohtani pitched in 14 games, posting a 2.87 ERA over 47 innings with 62 strikeouts. While the Dodgers limited his workload, his impact was still undeniable.
Pete Crow-Armstrong was an early contender, but he’s struggled significantly since the second half. Kyle Schwarber (Phillies) and Juan Soto (Mets) have also had strong seasons, but Ohtani’s dominance on both sides of the ball is simply unmatched.
AL MVP: Cal Raleigh vs. Aaron Judge
This one could go either way, and outside of Mariners or Yankees fans, few would be upset with either choice.
Aaron Judge is putting together another historic campaign, leading MLB in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, and posting a 9.2 WAR. The only knock? He missed some time due to injury and hasn’t played every game in the outfield.
On the other side, Cal Raleigh is having an extraordinary season. He’s now hit 60 home runs, just two shy of the record Judge set three years ago. More impressively, he’s doing it while catching one of the best rotations in baseball—handling game-calling, working with pitchers, and still producing elite offense.
While Judge’s season is one for the ages, if Raleigh breaks his HR record while leading behind the plate, the MVP might swing his way.
NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes
This one should be unanimous.
Paul Skenes, in just his second season (and first full one), has been electric. Over 32 starts, he posted a 1.97 ERA, becoming the first NL pitcher to go sub-2.00 since Justin Verlander in 2022. He also led the league with 216 strikeouts.
His 10-10 win-loss record shouldn’t matter—the days of relying on that stat are over. Skenes has been the definition of dominance.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto started strong and bounced back late, but had mid-season struggles. Zack Wheeler was Skenes’ only serious competition, but an injury late in the season cleared the path. This is Skenes’ award to lose.
AL Cy Young: Tarik Skubal
Tarik Skubal was the best pitcher in baseball last year—and somehow, he may have been even better this year.
While he won’t repeat as the Triple Crown winner, Skubal improved his FIP, WHIP, and posted a league-leading 2.21 ERA in the AL (second only to Skenes overall). The only real challenger is Garrett Crochet, who’s had an incredible debut season with the Red Sox, leading MLB with 255 strikeouts. But Skubal edges him in nearly every other key metric.
From his third start through September, Skubal put together an absurd 26-game stretch with a 1.86 ERA, 212 strikeouts, and fewer than 25 walks. He’s been a major reason for the Tigers’ dominance, and should be locking up his second straight Cy Young.
NL Rookie of the Year: Drake Baldwin vs. Cade Horton
This race has been wide open all year, with names like Roki Sasaki, Jacob Misiorowski, Dylan Crews, and Isaac Collins all getting early buzz. But it has come down to Drake Baldwin and Cade Horton.
Baldwin made the Braves’ Opening Day roster and has put together a steady season, slashing .274/.341/.464 with 19 home runs. Meanwhile, Horton debuted on May 10 and, aside from one rough outing against the Astros, has been brilliant.
Since the All-Star break, Horton has a jaw-dropping 1.03 ERA, the best in MLB over that span. A three-month tear like that is hard to ignore, but Baldwin has been contributing all season.
This one’s a toss-up—but both are deserving.
AL Rookie of the Year: Nick Kurtz
This might be the most clear-cut award of the season.
Nick Kurtz got off to a slow start after debuting on April 23, but quickly turned things around. Since May 1, many argue he’s been one of the best hitters in all of baseball—rookie or not.
On July 25, Kurtz went 6-for-6 with four home runs and eight RBIs, tying the all-time single-game total bases record with 19. That performance has already been called one of the greatest individual games in MLB history.
In July alone, Kurtz hit .395—yes, a 22-year-old rookie nearly hit .400 over a full month. The kid is the real deal, and the AL Rookie of the Year is rightfully his.
Final Thoughts
While October still holds the ultimate prize, these individual performances have already made this season one to remember. From Ohtani’s two-way dominance to Raleigh and Judge’s MVP slugfest, 2025 has been filled with elite talent rewriting the record books.