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10 MLB players who could set records in 2025
Following the Tokyo Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, which served as a homecoming for Japanese two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and marked the largest standalone international event in Major League Baseball history, the 2025 season is officially underway.
Once more, 30 teams will compete for a chance to secure the coveted World Series title. En route to an exciting playoff finish, the regular season figures to offer several amazing feats, too.
Let's take a look at 10 players that could set records in 2025.
Elly De La Cruz: Second player since 2000 to swipe 60+ stolen bases in consecutive seasons
Last year, De La Cruz established himself as an emerging star in Cincinnati. The Reds phenom was a first-time All-Star who hit 25 homers and swiped a Major League-leading 67 bags. Should he replicate his success on the base paths, the Reds speedster would join Jose Reyes (2005, 2006, 2007) as the only players since 2000 to notch 60+ stolen bases in consecutive seasons.
Shohei Ohtani: First foreign-born player to win Cy Young and MVP in the same season
Fresh off a historic season in which he mashed 54 home runs and swiped 59 bags, Ohtani could add his name to the record books again in 2025.
After rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery during his inaugural season with the Dodgers, the two-way star is expected to return to the mound as a starting pitcher. While his hitting prowess will keep him in MVP chatter, Ohtani is still an absolutely filthy pitcher who could push for the National League Cy Young Award, too.
Should he win both awards, Ohtani would be the first foreign-born player to win MVP and Cy Young in a single season.
Pete Alonso: Will the Polar Bear become the Mets all-time home runs leader?
Alonso enters the 2025 season just 26 home runs shy of tying Darryl Strawberry for the most all-time home runs in franchise history. Given that Alonso has mashed 30+ home runs in all but one season so far, it seems likely that the Polar Bear will become the Mets all-time home runs leader by season's end.
Juan Soto and Pete Alonso: Could become the first Mets teammates with 40+ home runs each in a single season
This offseason, the Mets made headlines by inking Soto to a massive 15-year, $765 million contract. With the All-Star slugger now paired with the aforementioned Alonso, the Mets boast one of the most feared lineups in the majors.
Should Soto (41) and Alonso (53) replicate their career-high home run totals, the hard-hitting duo would become the first Mets teammates to mash 40+ homers apiece in a single season.
Clayton Kershaw: Could become the third pitcher in history to record 3,000+ strikeouts with a single franchise
Kershaw has spent his entire 17-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and set numerous records along the way. With 32 strikeouts this season, he would join Bob Gibson and Walter Johnson as the only pitchers to record 3,000 strikeouts with a single franchise.
Bobby Witt Jr.: Third consecutive 30/30 season
Last year, Witt Jr. became the first shortstop in MLB history with multiple seasons of at least 30 homers and 30 stolen bases. This year, he’s projected for 31 home runs and 36 stolen bases, which would be his third 30-30 season, all consecutive.
With an encore performance, Witt Jr. would join Barry Bonds as the only players with three straight such seasons. Additionally, Witt. Jr would become the first player with at least 20 homers and 30 stolen bases in each of his first four seasons.
Mike Trout: First Angel with 400 career home runs
Making history is nothing new for Trout. A three-time AL MVP and 11-time All-Star, Trout is already a surefire Hall of Famer, but could add to his lengthy resume again this season.
With 22 home runs this season, Trout would become the first Angel with 400 career home runs.
Paul Skenes: First Pirates pitcher with multiple seasons with a sub-2.00 ERA
Skenes lived up to the hype in his rookie season in Pittsburgh. The former LSU standout went 11-3, fanned 170 batters and posted a 1.96 ERA through 23 starts.
While its easier said than done, an encore performance would make Skenes the first Pirates pitcher with multiple seasons with a sub-2.00 ERA.
Shohei Ohtani: Fastest player to reach 200+ homers and 200+ stolen bases
A two-way phenom, its only right that reigning NL MVP Ohtani makes it on this list twice.
Through the first 860 games, Ohtani has compiled 225 homers (he hit career homer No. 226 during the Tokyo Series) and 145 stolen bases. If he's able to swipe 55+ bags in the first 59 games of the season, Ohtani would surpass Alfonso Soriano (929 games) for the fastest track to 200+ homers and 200+ stolen bases.
Manny Machado: First Padre to notch 200 career home runs
Through six seasons in San Diego, Machado has quickly ascended the Padres all-time ranks. The two-time Gold Glove winner ranks top 10 in hits and RBI in Padres history, while also serving as the franchise's all-time leader in home runs.
With 33 home runs this season, Machado could become the first Padre with 200 career home runs.
More must-reads:
- Five bold Royals predictions not involving Bobby Witt Jr.
- Mets' Clay Holmes primed for starting role ahead of Opening Day
- The 'American League WAR leaders' quiz
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Milwaukee Brewers: Bryan Reynolds Shows Respect for Brew Crew After Brutal Pirates Sweep
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Troubling news emerges on Bears QB Caleb Williams’ workout with HC Ben Johnson
It might have been a good thing the Chicago Bears didn’t play Caleb Williams on Sunday. The Bears might need to hide their second-year quarterback as he irons out his wrinkles in the pre-snap process and with accuracy issues. The No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft struggled with timing and accuracy during the Bears’ joint practice with the Miami Dolphins on Friday. Caleb Williams was inaccurate in the red zone against no defenders On Sunday, Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson chose not to play second-year quarterback Caleb Williams against the Dolphins in their first preseason game. Instead, Johnson led a workout with Williams and wide receivers Rome Odunze and DJ Moore before the game. Per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears ran a total of 87 plays during the workout. All of the plays were routes in the air with no defenders on the field for the scripted practice. Despite going against no defenders bringing pressure or guarding his receivers, Williams struggled to hit his targets in the red zone. "Williams would stand next to Johnson, who would give him the play," Biggs wrote. "Then, the quarterback simulated a huddle with the player (only one ran a route on each snap) and gave the play call. They’d break the huddle, go to the line of scrimmage, Williams would simulate pre-snap actions and then the play would be run… "Before ending the session with eight deep balls, there was a 25-play set of snaps in the red zone. One thing Williams struggled to connect on was out routes to Moore and Odunze near the goal line. Those throws were not close and Williams consistently led the receivers too much." A closed-door problem for the Chicago Bears The throws weren’t close during routes on air… in the red zone? Williams wasn’t ready to take the field for the preseason game. For all of the flak he’s been getting from practice reports, the quarterback would have been relentlessly mocked for having these issues shown during an NFL Network broadcast. Biggs’ report is troubling, with a month to go before the season. Williams has much to improve upon, and the Bears are very much trying to do so without cameras present for a reason.
Five best NFL offseason value signings on offense: Bills get great deal with RB extension
Few know how to spend money like an NFL front office. This offseason, teams handed out over $4 billion in extensions alone, not to mention the several other billions spent in free agency. But which were the shrewdest investments? Below, we examine the best value signings at five positions on offense: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end and offensive line. Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith Contract: Two years, $75 million ($65.5M guaranteed) Shortly after acquiring Smith in a trade from the Seattle Seahawks, the Raiders extended the 2022 Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year to a contract that raises the Raiders' floor while maintaining flexibility. Smith has a manageable $26.5M cap hit in 2026, when Over The Cap projects Las Vegas to have the third-most cap space ($78.7M) based on an estimated 5.8 percent cap increase. Since 2022, Smith has the third-highest completion percentage (68.5 percent) among 32 quarterbacks with at least 20 starts during that span. He's also tied with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the second-most fourth-quarter comebacks (10) and trails only Mahomes in game-winning drives. Buffalo Bills running back James Cook Contract: Four years, $48M ($30M guaranteed) Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams pierced Cook's bubble when he signed a three-year, $33M extension on Aug. 5. The Bills running back sought $15M per year, making his $12M in annual average value (AAV) a huge win for Buffalo. Over Cook's first three seasons, he's averaged 4.9 yards per carry. In 2024, he led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns. With just 533 career tackles, Cook doesn't have the wear-and-tear of other backs who've made splashes early in their careers, raising hopes that he can withstand the workload that comes with being Buffalo's featured back. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins Contract: Four years, $115M ($40.9M guaranteed) The Bengals retained Higgins at a remarkable price, keeping him in Cincinnati at less than $30M per year, the going rate for the league's top wideouts. Per Spotrac, while Higgins is No. 10 in AAV among wide receivers, he ranks just outside the top 20 in guaranteed money. Last season, Higgins averaged 75.9 receiving yards per game, his most since 2021, and scored a career-high 10 touchdowns despite missing five games due to injury. Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride Contract: Four years, $76M ($43M guaranteed) The 2024 first-team All-Pro ranks No. 1 among tight ends in guaranteed salary. However, if he continues producing numbers more akin to WR1s — last season, he had 111 receptions, 1,146 receiving yards and two touchdowns — his contract will be one of the league's better bargains. Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley Contract: Three years, $60M ($44M guaranteed) Stanley's journey back from a devastating 2020 lower leg injury culminated in the 2019 first-team All-Pro being named a Pro Bowler for the second time in his first nine seasons last year. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft was rewarded with a contract that will keep him in Baltimore through his age-33 season. In terms of average annual value, his extension ranks below other left tackles who signed contracts this offseason, and not just younger players such as Rashawn Slater (Los Angeles Chargers), who was recently lost for the season, and Bernhard Raimann (Indianapolis Colts). Atlanta Falcons tackle Jake Matthews, 33, is averaging $22.5M on his current deal, while Las Vegas Raiders tackle Kolton Miller, 29, is set to earn $22M per year through 2028.
Bears make big decision amid concerning Caleb Williams reports
Second-year Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and other starters were spectators for Chicago's preseason opener versus the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, first-year Bears head coach Ben Johnson confirmed things will be different when his club hosts the Buffalo Bills for an exhibition matchup this coming Sunday evening. "Everyone's going to play," Johnson said, as shared by Courtney Cronin of ESPN. Johnson added that how many snaps Williams will take versus the Bills is "to be determined." The Bears will first host the Bills for a joint practice on Friday. Johnson came to this decision following multiple reports detailing the supposed struggles that Williams has endured throughout training camp. Most recently, Monday’s practice was allegedly "a low point for" Chicago's first-team offense and featured "Williams and receiver Rome Odunze both looking frustrated" after some failed connections. "I've been pretty consistent with the thought of reps, reps, reps are the most important thing to get [Williams] up to speed," Johnson explained. "And by the plan that we had a week ago, we were able to get him probably somewhere between 80 and 100 more reps than we would've been able to do had he played in the game. This week, it's a different schedule. Different length of time in terms of in between games and all that. And so, our plan right now is the guys that sat out last week, they will be playing this week." Those running the Bears hope that the hiring of Johnson, an advertised offensive guru, will help Williams become a top-tier quarterback after the 23-year-old won only five of 17 starts during his rookie season. However, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic is among those who have mentioned that Williams has been responsible for a noteworthy number of inaccurate passes this summer. "I think the trust that we've been talking about from the get-go, that's really where that comes into play," Johnson added about risking the health of his starters by playing them against Buffalo. "We haven't been here with this group as a coaching staff. That trust has been earning, and we've been developing that amongst each other. It's not a one-way street. It goes both ways. And so I think that's just another step in the progression, you know?" The Bears will wrap up the preseason with a game at the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 22. It's unclear if Williams or other Chicago starters will see any action that Friday night.
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