Sunday, Sept. 29th marked the end of the 2025 MLB regular season. While the season’s close indicated the time for teams to set their sights on the postseason, it also allowed an opportunity for reflection on an extraordinary season. Various factors made this season memorable, particularly the two AL MVP candidates, Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh.
Judge finished his 2025 campaign with a statline of 53 home runs, 114 Runs Batted In (RBIs) and a 1.144 On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS) all while boasting a .331 batting average. His batting average and OPS both led the league this year, and he ranked within the top five of the MLB in terms of RBIs and home runs.
Charlie Karr ‘27 noted, “Aaron Judge led Cal Raleigh in every stat except for home runs and RBIs, and he had a 50+ home run season; he deserves to have an MVP for that. Judge had a lot more walks than Raleigh did and I think if you give him another 30 extra at bats, he’s hitting at least another two home runs.”
This innate ability to get on base–and his overall offensive dominance–led the Yankees to tie for first place in the American League East and solidified their spot in the postseason. Despite Judge’s frequent struggles in the postseason, characterized by a .236 batting average, this year’s postseason presented a deviation from his usual antics. This year, Judge’s regular season offensive dominance continued into the postseason, but unfortunately, the Yankees were defeated by the Toronto Blue Jays, marking the end of Judge’s year.
While Cal Raleigh didn’t have quite the same offensive dominance as Judge, his year was certainly spectacular. Raleigh finished the season with a batting average of .247, 125 RBIs, a .948 OPS, and 60 home runs.
While Judge tops Raleigh in a majority of these categories, Raleigh’s historic 60 home runs allowed him to join an elite group of only seven players in history. This group includes notorious baseball legends such as Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Roger Maris and admittedly, Aaron Judge. However, one feature distinguishes Raleigh from the rest of the group; he plays catcher.
Luke Munoz ‘27 noted, “I think Cal Raleigh should be MVP because he’s a clutch hitter, a great leader and one of the best defensive catchers in the league. Not only did Cal hit 60 home runs, but he had to catch most of the games for 9 innings.”
Raleigh’s emergence as a catcher that is capable of hitting 60 home runs is unheard of in the MLB. Catchers tend to face an extremely difficult workload that is very aggressive on the body. This makes his season particularly special as no other player at this position in the MLB has achieved this feat.
In addition to Raleigh’s batting prowess, he is also a defensive juggernaut and won the Platinum Glove, an award reserved for the best defensive player in each league, in 2024. The all-star backstop’s defensive abilities provide irreplaceable value to the Mariners.
Just like Judge, Raleigh was also able to carry his team into the playoffs, although his Mariners also fell to the Blue Jays, but in the ALCS rather than the ALDS.
In conclusion, both Judge and Raleigh had seasons that are worthy to remember for years to come. The winner, whoever it may be, will claim his crown on Nov. 13, 2025.