The 2025 Major League Baseball season is not yet two months old, but it’s never too early to look ahead.
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New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge is asserting himself as one of the greatest hitters in MLB history, while Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is on pace to have an even better season than he did last year.
Elsewhere, some surprise pitchers have taken their game to the next level this year, while one rookie is playing like a 10-year veteran.
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While a lot can change over the summer months, here’s Newsweek Sports‘ first look at the end-of-season awards.
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Most Valuable Player
National League: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
In 42 games, Ohtani is slashing .310/.409/.673 with 15 home runs, 28 runs batted in, 10 stolen bases, 48 runs scored, and an OPS of 1.082.
If he didn’t pitch the whole year, he’d be an MVP favorite. He’s expected to return to pitching after the All-Star break. In that case, he’s an MVP runaway.
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The @Dodgers‘ Shohei Ohtani has played 42 games this season. He already has:
15+ home runs
10+ stolen bases
45+ runs scored
25+ walksNo one else in MLB history has put up those numbers over any 42-game span at any point in a single season. pic.twitter.com/GTGZkZVfTV
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) May 16, 2025
American League: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
However good you thought Aaron Judge was, he’s even better.
Through 43 games, the 6-foot-7 slugger is slashing .412/.497/.782 with 15 home runs, 41 RBIs, 12 doubles, 68 hits, 129 total bases, and an OPS of 1.279.
He may just put together one of the greatest offensive seasons in MLB history.
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Cy Young
National League: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers
So much for not being worth $325 million.
In his second season in MLB, Yamamoto has asserted himself among the game’s best pitchers, sporting a 2.12 ERA across nine starts and 51 innings pitched.
While his rotational counterparts have hit the injured list, he’s been the one constant in the L.A. rotation.
American League: Max Fried, New York Yankees
With Gerrit Cole out for the year, Fried has taken the Yankees’ ace label and run with it.
He’s 6-0 with an MLB-best 1.11 ERA across 56.2 innings. With a mess of a rotation behind him, he’s carrying the Yankees every time he takes the mound.
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Rookie of the Year
National League: AJ Smith-Shawver, Atlanta Braves
No one in the NL has taken a hold of the race yet, but Smith-Shawver is making a strong case for himself.
The 22-year-old has made seven starts, going 3-2 with a 2.33 ERA.
American League: Jacob Wilson, Athletics
After having a brief cup of coffee last year with 28 games at the MLB level, Wilson is playing in 2025 like a longtime veteran.
The 23-year-old is slashing .347/.377/.491 with five home runs, 26 RBIs, nine doubles, and just nine strikeouts to eight walks.
More MLB Award Predictions
Manager of the Year
National League: Bob Melvin, San Francisco Giants
American League: A.J. Hinch, Detroit Tigers
Comeback Player of the Year
National League: Kodai Senga, New York Mets
American League: Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers
Reliever of the Year
National League: Robert Suárez, San Diego Padres
American League: Andrés Muñoz, Seattle Mariners
