Top 5 American League MVP Contenders

As the 2025 MLB season enters the home stretch, the picture for numerous league awards becomes clearer. The AL MVP race this season has been one of the more intriguing ones in recent memory, with both superstars and new faces looking to take home the coveted award. Let’s examine and rank the five best contenders are for this year’s AL MVP.

1. Aaron Judge

Despite a flexor strain in his right elbow that caused him to miss the past week, Judge is very much in the driver’s seat to collect his third MVP award in four years. The towering Yankees slugger currently sports a slash line of .342/.449/.711, with Judge leading each category among not only all AL batters, but the entire league as well. If you add Judge’s 37 home runs and 85 RBI in just 103 games played so far this season, the Yankees superstar is the runaway MVP yet again.

2. Cal Raleigh

For a Mariners franchise that has suffered mightily at the plate for the better part of the last four seasons, Raleigh has been the answer Seattle so desperately needed this season. The fifth year catcher has put together one of the greatest offensive seasons from his position of all-time. The Mariners All-Star came one home run shy of tying Barry Bonds record for the most home runs prior to the All-Star break with 38. While Raleigh has struggled the plate since the break, but the slugger has more than earned his current position in the AL MVP race.

3. Tarik Skubal

After an impressive 2024 campaign that saw Skubal collect his first Cy Young award, the Tigers star pitcher has taken his game to another level this season. Skubal currently leads the American League in both strikeouts and ERA at both 188 and 2.18 respectively. Those two stats combined with Skubal’s 11-3 record as starter this year has the Tigers currently tied for the best record in the American League. They are very much in contention for a world series title in October.

4. Jose Ramirez

While the Cleveland Guardians have had a middling year compared to their impressive 2024 season, Ramirez has been one of the teams few bright spots this season. The five-time Silver Slugger is still getting it done at the age of 32 for the Guardians, with a .302 batting average to pair alongside 23 home runs this season. If the Guardians had a better record this season, Ramirez could very well have found himself higher on this list.

5. Bobby Witt Jr.

Although Witt Jr. is having a down year compared to his 2024 output, the Royals speedster still remains one of the best players in the sport. The 2024 AL MVP runner-up sports a solid slash line of .285/.340/.493, while also leading the American League in doubles. The two-time All-Star is also tied for 4th in the American League in stolen bases at over 29. These stats firmly place Witt Jr. at the fifth and final spot among the contenders for AL MVP.