Yankees Aaron Judge Named 2025 Al Mvp Finalist Yahoo Sports

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 18, 2025, 4:02 AM

yankees aaron judge named 2025 al mvp finalist yahoo sports

Aaron Judge had yet another historical year during the 2025 MLB season and, as expected, he's now being recognized for it. The Yankees slugger was named one of three finalists for the American League MVP on Monday night, joining the Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh and Cleveland Guardians' José Ramírez. Judge, who's looking to take home his second straight AL MVP and the third of his career, hit 53 home runs and led the league in batting average (.331) for the first time in... He helped the Yanks win 94 games and make the postseason for the second straight season, finishing second in the AL East to the eventual pennant winning Toronto Blue Jays. Some of his other jaw-dropping stats from the 2025 season include: Yankees captain Aaron Judge is still chasing that elusive first championship, but he needs to create some space in his trophy room for yet another piece of esteemed hardware.

Judge's latest historic season was formally recognized on Thursday, as he received American League MVP honors for a second straight season and the third time in four years. While the decision among BBWAA members wasn't unanimous -- like last season's results -- Judge earned 17 first-place votes to beat out Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (13 first-place votes) and the Cleveland Guardians' Jose... "Aaron has been playing in rarified air for much of his career," Yankees GM Brian Cashman said in a statement. "His devotion to his craft, his continuous pursuit of excellence, and the importance he places on being a teammate who can be counted on help define his legacy just as much as his three... “He is a once-in-a-generation player who embodies so much of what is good about our game. Aaron is being celebrated again tonight, and rightfully so.

He has blossomed into one of sports’ greatest superstars.” For the second straight season, New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge has been named the American League's Most Valuable Player. Judge beat out Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh and Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez for the award, the BBWAA announced Thursday night. As the voting results show, it was a close race between Judge and Raleigh: This is Judge's second straight MVP and the third of his career (he also won in 2022). He is the 13th player with three MVPs.

Only Barry Bonds (seven) and Shohei Ohtani (four), who won this year's National League MVP, have more. Judge is the fourth Yankee with three MVPs, joining Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio (1939, 1941, 1947), Yogi Berra (1951, 1954-55), and Mickey Mantle (1956-57, 1962). He joins Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers superstar who won National League MVP. Judge slashed .331/.457/.688 this season and led baseball in batting average by 20 points, on-base percentage by 58 points, and slugging percentage by 66 points. His 53 home runs were second in the AL behind Raleigh's 60. Judge's 9.7 WAR was 1.7 wins better than the next best player, per Baseball Reference's calculations.

Aaron Judge won this third AL MVP and now has taken home the award in three of the past four seasons, a dominant stretch that has bolstered his Hall of Fame resume. Al Bello / Getty Images LAS VEGAS — New York Yankees star Aaron Judge, who led MLB in batting average while hitting 53 home runs, beat the Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh in a close vote to win his third... Judge netted 17 first-place votes and 355 points to edge Raleigh, who garnered 13 first-place votes and 335 points, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced Thursday night. The Cleveland Guardians’ José Ramírez (224 points) finished third. Judge’s across-the-board offensive dominance in leading the Yankees to a tie for the AL’s best record won out over whispers of voter fatigue amid a historic season from Raleigh, whose 60 home runs were...

In the National League, Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter and starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani unanimously won his fourth MVP award. Image Courtesy: Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons New York, NY: Aaron Judge 2025 AL MVP honors now place the Yankees star among DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, and Mantle as franchise legends. Judge’s historic season included 53 home runs, a .331 batting average, and a 1.144 OPS. 2025 AL MVP award has gone to Aaron Judge, cementing the New York Yankees captain’s place among the most accomplished players in franchise and Major League Baseball history. Judge finished the season with 53 home runs, the highest total in the American League according to multiple official season summaries (AP News, MLB.com).

He added a .331 batting average and a 1.144 OPS, becoming just the fourth Yankee ever to win three AL MVPs, alongside Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, and Mickey Mantle (MLB.com). Judge’s late-season surge, widely highlighted by analysts across major outlets, kept the Yankees in contention during key stretches. His combination of power and consistency defined New York’s offense and has been repeatedly called out as a difference-maker by MLB insiders (BBWAA release, CBS Sports). Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners finished second in voting, turning the MVP race into one of the most tightly contested in recent years (AP News). Judge received 17 first-place votes, while Raleigh received 13, according to official BBWAA ballots. Major league analysts emphasized Judge’s leadership both on and off the field.

Beat writers consistently referenced his intangible impact, including his ability to set a clubhouse tone and elevate the performance of those around him. While some analysts suggest Judge’s third MVP could factor in future contract discussions, no official talks have been announced (ESPN). Aaron Judge of the Yankees celebrates his third-inning home run against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 11. Credit: Jim McIsaac The better player.

The better season. In the end, it was that simple reasoning that landed Yankees captain Aaron Judge the 2025 American League Most Valuable Player award. There was an abundance of theories about why Seattle’s Cal Raleigh could be selected as the AL MVP over Judge. He hit seven more home runs, and his 60 were the most ever by a catcher. He surpassed Mickey Mantle’s record of 54 home runs by a switch hitter. A catcher plays a more important role in a team’s success than an outfielder or a designated hitter does.

But no sort of mental gymnastics was going to get away from the sober reality that Judge was the better player and had the better season. “I never came into this game chasing awards, chasing anything besides getting the chance to win and leave this game better than I found it,” Judge said on a conference call after the award... “If I would have won by one vote — if I would have won by 20 votes — that didn’t matter in my eyes. Or if I lost, it’s just amazing. Getting into this opportunity? Man, you get one life, and getting a chance to experience these things is pretty special.”

Yankees Aaron Judge Named 2025 Al Mvp Finalist Yahoo Sports

People Also Search

Aaron Judge Had Yet Another Historical Year During The 2025

Judge's Latest Historic Season Was Formally Recognized On Thursday, As

He Has Blossomed Into One Of Sports’ Greatest Superstars.” For

Only Barry Bonds (seven) And Shohei Ohtani (four), Who Won

Aaron Judge Won This Third AL MVP And Now Has