Aaron Judge claimed the American League MVP award in a razor-thin vote over Cal Raleigh, marking one of the closest decisions in recent baseball history. Both players delivered historic seasons, with Judge's offensive prowess edging out Raleigh's groundbreaking performance as a catcher. The outcome has fueled lively debate among voters and analysts.
The 2025 AL MVP race pitted Aaron Judge against Cal Raleigh in what became one of baseball's most compelling award battles. Judge prevailed in the announcement on Thursday, securing the honor in one of the narrowest votes ever recorded by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). This contrasted with recent landslide wins, such as Shohei Ohtani's four unanimous MVPs and Ronald Acuña Jr.'s 2023 NL MVP.
Judge posted arguably a top-five all-time season for a right-handed hitter, winning the batting title while hitting 53 home runs—a first in MLB history for a player with 53 or more homers. His 215 OPS+ ranked fourth-highest ever for a right-handed batter, trailing only his own 2024 MVP season (.322 average, 58 homers, 144 RBI, 225 OPS+), Rogers Hornsby's 1924 (.424, 222 OPS+), and Mark McGwire's 1998 (70 homers, 216 OPS+). Supporters highlighted this dominance, with one voter asking, “Is it not historic to win a batting title while hitting 53 home runs?”
Raleigh, meanwhile, had the greatest season ever by a catcher, smashing 60 home runs as a switch-hitter while excelling defensively. Statcast rated him in the 87th percentile for fielding run value, and he guided one of MLB's top pitching staffs. His 169 OPS+ reflected 69% above-average production, but advocates noted catcher's taxing demands compared to right field, arguing metrics like Wins Above Replacement undervalue defensive contributions.
The author of the piece leaned toward Raleigh for his unique achievements but acknowledged the strong case for Judge's undeniable offense. Such debates, regardless of the outcome, enrich the sport and underscore baseball's depth.