The 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) season has reached its peak, and with it, the performance of the main players begins to profile the most serious candidates for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Based on updated statistics such as WAR (Wins Above Replacement), OPS (on-base plus slugging) and other performance indicators, the New York Yankees outfielder, Aaron Judge, is positioned as the best player of the season to date.
Here’s the list of the five most outstanding baseball players of 2025:
1. Aaron Judge (New York Yankees)
With an offensive line of .352 batting average, 36 home runs, and 89 runs scored, the Yankees captain not only leads the American League, but all of MLB. His OPS of 1.183 is the highest in the league, and his WAR exceeds 7.4, reaffirming his impact both offensively and defensively.
Judge has returned to his dominant form after a 2024 season limited by injuries. This time he has not only stayed healthy, but has led his team in all aspects, consolidating himself as the main offensive threat in the league.
2. Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Although he has limited his work as a pitcher this year due to surgical recovery, Ohtani continues to wreak havoc at the plate. He has accumulated more than 30 home runs, an OPS close to .990, and maintains a WAR close to 6.0, being fundamental to the Dodgers, leaders in their division.
Ohtani has also tied the record for most consecutive games with a home run (6), demonstrating that his offensive influence remains historic, even with limited participation on the mound.
3. Cal Raleigh (Seattle Mariners)
The season’s big surprise has been the Seattle catcher, who leads the American League in home runs (38) and RBIs (83). His OPS is around .988, unusual numbers for a player at his position.
Raleigh has been a key player in the offense of a Mariners team that has exceeded expectations, fighting for a postseason spot. His consistency places him among the most valuable players in the circuit.
4. Will Smith (Los Angeles Dodgers)
The Dodgers’ starting catcher has also had a dream season. He’s batting .323 with an OPS of .956 and has been consistent behind the plate. His ability to produce offensively from the catcher position has made him one of the offensive pillars of one of the strongest teams in the National League.
Smith combines plate discipline with occasional power, which has made him one of the most efficient hitters of 2025.
5. Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas City Royals)
The young Royals shortstop continues to prove he’s a rising star. With a WAR close to 5.0, Witt Jr. is batting .288 and has over 30 stolen bases, combining speed, power, and elite defense.
Its impact goes beyond statistics: it has been the engine of a young team that has begun to compete with greater strength. His contributions position him as one of the most complete players in MLB.
Honorable Mentions
Other players also stand out, such as Elly De La Cruz (Reds), José Ramírez (Guardians), and Nick Kurtz, a rookie for the Athletics who recently surprised by hitting four home runs in a single game.
The 2025 season has been marked by great individual performances, but also by the resurgence of catchers as offensive forces. Judge and Ohtani continue to demonstrate why they are considered generational phenomena, while youngsters like Witt Jr. and Raleigh represent the immediate future of baseball.
The coming months will be decisive in defining the individual awards, but if current trends continue, Aaron Judge’s name could once again be engraved on the Most Valuable Player trophy.
