Juan Soto has been named a finalist for the 2025 National League MVP award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. The New York Mets outfielder joins Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers and Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies in the race, with the winner to be announced on Nov. 13. Soto's standout season included leading the NL in on-base percentage and walks.
Juan Soto’s inaugural season with the New York Mets concluded as one of the top performances in the National League, earning him a spot as a finalist for the 2025 NL MVP award. The Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced the finalists on Monday, pitting Soto against heavily favored Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies. The winner will be revealed on Nov. 13 on MLB Network.
Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets last December. In his first year in Flushing, he posted a .263/.396/.525 slash line, with 43 home runs, 38 stolen bases, 105 RBIs and 127 walks. He led the National League in on-base percentage and walks while tying for the league lead in steals. Soto became the first player in Mets history to achieve a 40-30 season, combining at least 40 homers and 30 stolen bases.
Soto's performance improved markedly after a slow start. Through May 28, he had a .745 OPS. From that point over the next 105 games, he slashed .285/.418/.596 and stole 31 of his 38 bases, solidifying his status as an elite hitter.
Ohtani, the defending NL MVP, is the frontrunner after leading the league in fWAR. As a designated hitter, he hit .282/.392/.622 with 55 homers, 102 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. He also made 14 starts on the mound with a 2.87 ERA. Ballots were cast before postseason play, but Ohtani's regular season positions him for a potential third straight MVP and fourth in five years.
Schwarber paced the NL with 56 homers and 132 RBIs, slashing .240/.365/.563. Soto is the only Mets finalist across BBWAA awards this year, with no nominations for Cy Young, Rookie of the Year or Manager of the Year.