Two MLB award races that have already been decided

With a month of regular-season baseball remaining, many of MLB's award races are still hotly contested. Even some with clear frontrunners have yet to be determined. 

Yes, the American League Cy Young is Tarik Skubal's to lose, while Paul Skenes has maintained his grip on the National League Cy Young. But neither player has an insurmountable lead over the competition.

There are, however, a pair of award races that have long been decided. One winner has been in place for months. The other, an unexpected candidate, has used his recent momentum to leave little doubt about the final vote.

Here are the two MLB award races that have already wrapped up.

NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani will win his third straight MVP award in 2025, and no player can do anything about it.

The Los Angeles Dodgers phenom is once again setting the league on fire with his bat, striking fear into opposing pitchers as baseball's best leadoff hitter. Leading the league in plate appearances (567), runs (118), home runs (43), slugging % (.621) and OPS (1.014), the 31-year-old likely could've claimed this honor with his bat alone.

Ohtani's return to the mound, though, has only further solidified his status as the face of the sport. The five-time All-Star has proven that two Tommy John surgeries aren't enough to keep him from being one of the game's premier pitchers.

His comeback to pitching has been a slow one, but Ohtani has dominated in limited action. Over nine appearances and 23.1 innings, the two-way phenom has mowed down batters to the tune of 32 strikeouts and a 3.47 ERA.

With the Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber sitting in a distant second at +1700, Ohtani is a near guarantee to lock up his fourth career MVP at -20000 odds, per FanDuel.

AL ROY: Nick Kurtz, Athletics

An honor that once looked like it would go to his teammate, shortstop Jacob Wilson, before injury, Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz has built a massive lead over his peers in the AL Rookie of the Year race.

A first-round selection by the A's in 2024, Kurtz quickly rose through baseball's ranks but initially struggled at the professional level. He quickly turned his season around and was a productive hitter, batting .253 with 12 home runs and 32 RBI by the end of June. 

Kurtz's June may have kept him in the race, but it was his torrid July and August that made it clear who this year's winner would be. Over the next month-plus, Kurtz has been a force at the plate and now boasts a batting average of .306, good for sixth in MLB. 

The 22-year-old has more than doubled his home run total since the start of July (thanks in part to a four-homer game on July 26) and now has 25 long balls to his name, showcasing his multi-faceted hitting skills. 

Not much has gone right for the A's this season, but the franchise's pair of top rookies has given its fanbase a reason to be optimistic about the future.

Kurtz, like Ohtani, boasts incredibly strong odds to take home AL ROY. While Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony has continued to put up a strong fight in second (+2200), Kurtz is already a lock to win the award at -20000 odds, per FanDuel.