Similar to a season ago, an international series kicks off the 2025 MLB regular season, with the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs making the trip to Tokyo, Japan. With the season on the verge of beginning, who will win the major awards?
AL MVP: Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Kansas City Royals
Aaron Judge leading baseball in nearly every offensive category easily secured him his second MVP award. Though it is entirely possible he repeats his success, Bobby Witt Jr. will emerge as the best player in the American League this season. Entering his fourth year, the Royals shortstop has made sizable leaps across his game, with his slashline adding a minimum of 50 points to each. An increase in bat-to-ball skills and power led to Witt Jr. setting career bests in home runs (32), doubles (45), RBIs (109) and leading baseball in hits (211). Adding phenomenal defense, he racked up an All-Star nod, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and finished runner-up for this award a year ago. Though the AL is jammed packed with superstars worthy of the award, it will be Witt Jr. who will be named MVP.
Other candidates: Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees; Gunnar Henderson, SS, Baltimore Orioles; José Ramírez, 3B, Cleveland Guardians; Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels; Brent Rooker, OF, Athletics; Jarren Duran, OF, Boston Red Sox; Marcus Semien, 2B, Texas Rangers
NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani, RHP/DH, Los Angeles Dodgers
The undeniable force that is Shohei Ohtani has easily become the best player in baseball, winning three MVP awards in just seven seasons in the MLB. Following his crosstown move from the Angels to the Dodgers, he produced career bests in nearly every counting stat, becoming the first player to join the 50-50 club and winning his second consecutive MVP. This was all without throwing a pitch, as Ohtani recovered from elbow surgery. Though there is no true timeline for his return to the bump, he still remains the most prolific player in the game.
Other candidates: Juan Soto, OF, New York Mets; Francisco Lindor, SS, New York Mets; Bryce Harper, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies; Mookie Betts, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers; Elly De La Cruz, SS, Cincinnati Reds; Ketel Marte, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks, Fernando Tatis Jr., OF, San Diego Padres
AL Cy Young: Jack Flaherty, RHP, Detroit Tigers
A Detroit Tigers pitcher won this award last season and the outcome will be the same. Well, not entirely the same, as it won’t be Tarik Skubal who is tabbed as the AL’s best arm. Rather, it will be Jack Flaherty. In a resurgent year, the righty looked like the once highly touted arm for St. Louis, posting a low-three ERA, striking out 194 batters in 162 innings. He was sent to the Dodgers prior to the trade deadline, where he still found success, but not to the same degree as he did in the Motor City. The return to Detroit will be the boost he needs to cement himself as a top arm in baseball.
Other candidates: Tarik Skubal, LHP, Detroit Tigers; Jacob deGrom, RHP, Texas Rangers; Cole Ragans, LHP, Kansas City Royals; Emmanuel Clase, RHP, Cleveland Guardians; Kevin Gausman, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays; Garrett Crochet, LHP, Boston Red Sox; Seth Lugo, RHP, Kansas City Royals
NL Cy Young: Zac Gallen, Starting Pitcher, Arizona Diamondbacks
After two top-five Cy Young finishes, Zac Gallen mildly regressed in 2024. With his final year under contract with Arizona and now in the shadows of free agent signing Corbin Burnes, Gallen is going to do everything in his power to remind baseball he is a premier arm. He has proven that he can miss bats with ease and cause weak contact to opponents, leading baseball in H/9 (5.9) and the NL in WHIP (0.913) in 2022 and striking out a career best 220 hitters in 2023. With landing the megadeal in the foreground, Gallen is going to be the NL’s best in 2025.
Other candidates: Paul Skenes, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates; Chris Sale, LHP, Atlanta Braves; Corbin Burnes, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks; Zack Wheeler, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies; Tyler Glasnow, RHP Los Angeles Dodgers; Blake Snell, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers; Spencer Strider, RHP, Atlanta Braves
AL Rookie of the Year: Roman Anthony, Outfielder, Boston Red Sox
For a Boston Red Sox team that added arms to the rotation and big bats to the lineup, an in-house development will be the biggest standout for the squad. MLB’s second-ranked prospect Roman Anthony has torched pitchers everywhere he’s gone since becoming a professional. After a strong showing in Spring camp, he’s made it clear to the Red Sox front office that he is the future, when it comes to patrolling centerfield.
Other candidates: Jackson Jobe, RHP, Detroit Tigers; Kyle Teel, C, Chicago White Sox; Kumar Rocker, RHP, Texas Rangers; Marcelo Mayer, SS, Boston Red Sox; Jasson Domínguez, OF, New York Yankees; Kristian Campbell, SS, Boston Red Sox; Jacob Wilson, SS, Athletics
NL Rookie of the Year: Roki Sasaki, Starting Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers
Just like a season ago, the Dodgers landed the biggest international arm, with last year being Yoshinobu Yamamoto and this year being Roki Sasaki. Yamamoto was solid in work, but injuries stole a large portion of his season. Injuries are hard to predict, so barring any unforeseen sidelinings, Sasaki is set up to have a great first year in the MLB. He took a rare route for foreign players, coming over at the age of 23 and with just four years of professional experience, which meant he got paid less than he would’ve had he waited a few more years. Despite just a quartet of pro seasons, Sasaki has been untouchable, having a 2.10 ERA across 394.2 innings in the NPB, punching out 505. Surrounded by aces, the pressure is off for the Japanese born stud in his first year.
Other candidates: Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates; Dylan Crews, OF, Washington Nationals; Matt Shaw, 2B, Chicago Cubs; Rhett Lowder, RHP, Cincinnati Reds; Dalton Rushing, C, Los Angeles Dodgers; Chase Dollander, RHP, Colorado Rockies; Drake Baldwin, C, Atlanta Braves
World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers
How can you not pick the Dodgers? A team that has the best player in the game, who added the best international free agent, who is coming off their second World Series win in five years. That’s without mentioning signing Blake Snell, virtually every big name free agent, the stardom they already possess with Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez, Will Smith, Tyler Glasnow and Yamamoto. That’s just listing the top names, too. This team is too deep and has too many sensational players to finish 2025 as anything but World Series champions.
All stats from Baseball Reference as of March 16.
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