Ohtani Unanimous for Third Straight MVP; Judge Prevails in Close AL Vote

Lead: Shohei Ohtani was a unanimous National League Most Valuable Player winner on Thursday, securing his third straight MVP award and fourth in five years, while Aaron Judge edged Cal Raleigh to claim the American League MVP in a tight BBWAA vote. The results, revealed on MLB Network, confirmed Ohtani’s unique two-way value for the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and capped a heated AL debate between Judge and Raleigh. Judge received 17 first-place ballots to Raleigh’s 13, finishing 355-335 in total points. The outcome marks the first season in MLB history in which both MVPs repeated from the previous year.

Key Takeaways

• Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) was a unanimous NL MVP winner for the third straight year and fourth time in five seasons, joining an elite group led by Barry Bonds (seven MVPs).
• Aaron Judge (Yankees) won the 2025 AL MVP with 17 first-place votes to Cal Raleigh’s 13, finishing 355-335 in the overall tally.
• Cal Raleigh hit 60 home runs—most ever by a catcher, a switch-hitter and in Mariners franchise history—and led the AL with 125 RBIs.
• Judge led MLB in batting average at .331 and posted 53 homers, a .457 on-base percentage and a .688 slugging mark for a 1.144 OPS.
• Ohtani slashed .282/.392/.622 with a career-high 55 homers, 146 runs scored (MLB-high), 380 total bases and a combined 9.4 FanGraphs WAR in the NL.
• As a pitcher, Ohtani made 14 starts after returning June 16, throwing 47 innings with a 2.87 ERA, 145 ERA+, 62 strikeouts and nine walks.
• This is the first time both MVP winners from one season repeated the next, highlighting the ongoing eras of Ohtani and Judge.

Background

The 2025 MVP voting unfolded against a season in which two very different narratives converged: Judge’s traditional power-and-on-base dominance and Raleigh’s historic production as a catcher. Aaron Judge entered the year already established as one of the most prodigious right-handed hitters of the modern era, carrying recent seasons that included a 62-homer campaign (2022) and an OPS+ of 223 in 2024. Cal Raleigh’s breakout was exceptional not only offensively but defensively; he arrived at 60 homers after being recognized previously as one of the game’s top defenders.

Shohei Ohtani’s career has reshaped how teams and fans value two-way performance, and his 2025 season blended elite hitting with a cautious but impactful return to the mound after a second major elbow surgery. MLB’s landscape—where advanced metrics and traditional counting stats both matter—set the stage for a close AL race and a more straightforward NL outcome. Ballot behavior reflected these dual pressures: some voters weigh positional context and defensive value heavily, while others prioritize clear offensive superiority or combined contributions like Ohtani’s.

Main Event

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America revealed the 2025 MVP results on MLB Network, with Ohtani capturing unanimous NL support and Judge narrowly defeating Raleigh in the AL. Judge’s 17 first-place votes to Raleigh’s 13 translated into a 20-point margin, a small gap given the season-long public debate. Raleigh’s 60 homers and 125 RBIs electrified Mariners fans and vaulted Seattle back into postseason relevance; the team advanced to the ALCS after voting concluded, underscoring how his season correlated with team success.

Ohtani’s case combined a 55-homer offensive season—the kind of run production that alone would merit MVP consideration—with a return to the rotation that meaningfully helped the Dodgers down the stretch. After returning to pitching on June 16, he was eased into starts, yet posted a 2.87 ERA across 47 innings, lifting a rotation that had battled injuries. Voters rewarded the combined impact: Ohtani’s 9.4 FanGraphs WAR led all NL players.

Judge’s résumé this year was statistical perfection for a power-on-base hitter: a .331 batting average, .457 OBP and .688 slugging, plus 53 home runs—the highest total ever by a batting champion. He also battled an elbow issue that cost playing time yet still produced leading numbers across major offensive categories, which resonated with many voters who value traditional batting dominance.

Analysis & Implications

Ohtani’s unanimous selection cements his place as the rare modern superstar whose value comes from two complementary skill sets. Unanimity on the ballot is uncommon; to be a unanimous winner three years in a row is unprecedented outside the Bonds era. For clubs and front offices, Ohtani’s trajectory elevates the premium on finding and developing truly versatile talent—though his career arc is uniquely rare and not easily replicable.

The AL vote reflects the tension between measurable offensive dominance and context-dependent defensive or pitch-framing value at catcher. Raleigh’s 60 homers and 125 RBIs supplied enormous counting stats and tangible team impact, but catchers remain difficult to evaluate with a single standard metric. Judge’s clear league-leading rate stats—especially OBP and slash-line dominance—offered voters a simpler comparative frame, which likely tilted the final ballots in his favor.

For the Yankees, Judge’s repeat MVP underscores a sustained elite peak and cements his historical standing among the game’s power hitters; he now joins a short list of players with at least three MVPs. For the Mariners, Raleigh’s season may recalibrate how organizations value offensive upside at catcher and could influence future roster and development choices leaguewide.

Comparison & Data

The table isolates primary offensive measures; some entries are left blank where the season highlight was in a different metric (e.g., total bases, runs scored). Ohtani’s dual role is best appreciated by combining the hitting numbers above with his pitching line: 47 innings, 2.87 ERA, 145 ERA+, 62 strikeouts and nine walks. Raleigh’s defensive grades—87th percentile in fielding run value (Statcast) and the eighth-highest defensive rating across positions (FanGraphs)—supplement his offensive totals and explain why many voters found his candidacy compelling.

Reactions & Quotes

Before presenting his brief comment, teammates and club officials highlighted Ohtani’s clubhouse leadership and the Dodgers’ focus on the World Series as the season’s primary goal. The award release came the same night celebrations for the Dodgers’ championship continued, and Ohtani emphasized team achievement over individual hardware.

“Winning the World Series is first and foremost; the MVP is icing on the cake,”

Shohei Ohtani (via interpreter)

That remark framed how Ohtani and his club view the award: as a complement to a collective objective rather than the season’s defining aim. Team officials noted the practical challenge of managing his innings while preserving his two-way effectiveness, and the MVP served as recognition of both personal excellence and roster-level success.

Judge’s comments came amid acknowledgment from Yankees leadership about his continued adjustments and resilience through nagging elbow trouble. Voters and front-office personnel cited his combination of power, on-base skill and situational production when explaining their support.

“I tried to round out my game and be as productive as I can for my teammates,”

Aaron Judge

Judge’s statement echoed a season-long narrative about broadening his offensive footprint beyond raw home-run power. Yankees officials emphasized his leadership and consistent availability in key moments despite an elbow issue that required careful management through the year.

Unconfirmed

• How much weight individual BBWAA voters placed on Raleigh’s defensive framing and pitcher-calling versus his offensive totals has not been detailed publicly.
• The internal discussions among voters about potential “voter fatigue” toward perennial contenders were not disclosed and remain speculative.
• No official breakdown explains whether team postseason timing (e.g., Seattle reaching the ALCS after ballots were cast) influenced any individual ballots.

Bottom Line

Thursday’s MVP announcements reinforced two narratives: Ohtani’s singular two-way dominance and Judge’s sustained offensive peak. Ohtani’s unanimous selection and Judge’s narrow victory over Raleigh reflect both objective statistical measures and the subjective lenses voters use to value defense, positional scarcity and combined roles.

Looking ahead, the awards may shift front-office priorities—valuing catchers with rare offensive upside and continuing to prize versatile two-way talent where feasible. For fans and historians, the 2025 season will be remembered as a year in which established superstars reaffirmed their elite status while a catcher produced one of the most extraordinary single-season offensive lines in franchise and positional history.

Sources

• MLB.com — (league coverage; vote totals and reporting)
• Baseball Savant / Statcast — (advanced defensive metrics and fielding run value)
• FanGraphs — (defensive rating and WAR data)