Which MLB players will take home major awards?

Rookie of the Year

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Cade Horton Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

NL: RHP Cade Horton | Chicago Cubs 

Horton has helped the Cubs reach the postseason, and his contributions from the mound should earn him NL Rookie of the Year honors. He has been ridiculously good since the All-Star break, going 8-1 with a 0.93 ERA in allowing just 31 hits in 58.1 innings. Showing up in the biggest way at the biggest time should tip the scales in his favor.

Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin was thought to be the favorite earlier in the season, but Horton has overshadowed him (and Atlanta failing to reach the postseason doesn’t help either). Meanwhile, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Isaac Collins wasn’t even listed on the opening odds for ROY by BetMGM, but will get plenty of consideration. Collins is slashing .394/.462/.727 in 33 ninth-inning at-bats, showing just how clutch he has been.

-- Kevin Henry

AL: 1B Nick Kurtz | Athletics 

Nick Kurtz has quickly established himself as a cornerstone for the Athletics’ future. Drafted fourth overall in 2024, he spent just 32 games in the minors before earning an aggressive call-up. 

In just 111 major league games, Kurtz has launched 33 home runs while posting a stellar .291/.384/.613 slash line. His production has vaulted him past teammate Jacob Wilson (SS), Roman Anthony (OF, Red Sox) and the AL Rookie of the Year field.

Now firmly entrenched as one of baseball’s premier young power hitters, Kurtz could find himself in the AL MVP conversation as early as his first full season in 2026 if he maintains this torrid pace.

-- Allen Settle 

Cy Young Award

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

NL: RHP Paul Skenes | Pittsburgh Pirates 

Finishing third in NL Cy Young voting as a rookie last season, Skenes is poised to take home the award in 2025. As of Sunday, he leads all starting pitchers with a 2.03 ERA and tops all NL pitchers with a 0.96 WHIP.

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez has also made a strong run this season, pitching the second-most innings in MLB (189 1/3), totaling 21 quality starts, tied with Logan Webb for the  most in MLB. Sanchez also has a 13-5 record and a 2.66 ERA, and his 5.7 WAR is the third-best among all starting pitchers.

Freddy Peralta’s strong campaign has firmly placed him in the race as well. Leading MLB with 17 wins, Peralta’s been a key reason behind Milwaukee’s third consecutive division title. His 2.65 ERA ranks third in the majors, along with a 1.07 WHIP (fourth) and a .190 BAA (second). Within franchise ranks, his 6.2 hits per nine is the lowest mark by a Brewers starting pitcher in franchise history.

-- Taylor Bretl

AL: LHP Tarik Skubal | Detroit Tigers 

The 2024 AL Cy Young award winner, Skubal, is set to become the first back-to-back winner in the American League since Pedro Martinez in 1999 and 2000. He has dominated this season, posting a league-leading 2.23 ERA and a 0.882 WHiP over his 189.1 innings, striking out 233 batters with just 30 walks. Skubal has been a key factor as to why the Tigers are contending for a playoff berth despite their late-season swoon.

Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown has built off of a breakout 2024 showing to establish himself as a potential future ace. Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet and Yankees hurler Carlos Rodon should warrant consideration as well.

-- David Hill 

Most Valuable Player

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

NL: DH/RHP Shohei Ohtani | Los Angeles Dodgers 

After six seasons in the American League, Ohtani quickly asserted his dominance in the NL by creating a new 50-50 club in 2024, posting 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases in his first season with the Dodgers. He won his third MVP award after winning two with the Angels in 2021 and 2023. This season, the two-way superstar returned to the mound and has all but secured his third consecutive and fourth overall MVP award by dominating on both sides of the ball. At the plate, his .620 slugging percentage, 1.015 OPS and 180 OPS+ lead the league, while his 53 homers are tied with Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber for the NL lead.

In 41 innings pitched, the five-time All-Star has a 3.29 ERA with 54 strikeouts and just nine walks. No other player in baseball is doing what Ohtani is doing, and that's why the NL MVP race isn't particularly close. Schwarber and Phillies teammate Trea Turner, whose .305 batting average leads the NL, have each made compelling cases for the award. Mets outfielder Juan Soto has thrown his name into the ring as well, setting a new career high in home runs with 42, while his 123 walks and .399 on-base percentage are tops in the league. However, it is Ohtani who will add to his impressive resume by earning the award for the second time in November.

-- Lauren Amour

AL: OF Aaron Judge |  New York Yankees

The AL MVP race is a tight one in 2025, even if unexpectedly so. It’s tough to top Judge’s resume, though, considering he leads all of MLB in bWAR (8.9), batting average (.326), on-base percentage (.451), and OPS (1.123). And it’s not especially close in any of those aforementioned categories. 

However, let’s give Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh his flowers. He’s set  multiple hitting records in 2025, both at his position and on his team. Raleigh leads all of MLB in home runs with 58, mashing long balls from both sides of the plate. Despite Raleigh’s record-breaking 2025, though, he still trails Judge by a significant margin in OPS (.949 to 1.123), and that’s with the latter having missed some time due to injury this summer. Furthermore, the weight of the catcher position alone isn’t enough to give him the bWAR edge, either, despite catchers being inherently more valuable than outfielders. To that end, Raleigh trails Judge by three wins in that category, which means he should fall just short of winning MVP.

-- Seth Carlson