MLB MVP Race Heats Up: Judge, Ohtani Lead, New Stars Emerge at Season's Halfway Point

As the 2025 Major League Baseball season crosses its halfway point, the Most Valuable Player conversations are intensifying, moving well beyond the "early favorites" and introducing compelling new narratives, particularly in the National League. While familiar titans continue their dominant campaigns, the latest MLB.com MVP poll reveals a dynamic race where sustained excellence and surging performances are defining the contenders.

A comprehensive poll of 43 MLB.com experts considered both current performance and anticipated second-half contributions, ranking their top five picks in each league on a 5-4-3-2-1 point scale. All statistics are updated through Monday's games.

American League MVP Race

1. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (35 first-place votes) Despite his batting average no longer flirting with .400, Aaron Judge remains the overwhelming frontrunner in the AL MVP poll. The Yankees' colossal slugger continues his relentless march toward another potentially historic season, maintaining a batting average above .350 while unleashing home runs at a furious pace. His league-leading 1.175 OPS underscores his offensive supremacy. Just this past weekend, Judge notched his 44th career multi-homer game, a feat that propelled him past Yankees legend Lou Gehrig into third place in franchise history. He's now just two multi-homer games shy of tying Mickey Mantle for second, and the seemingly unreachable franchise mark of 68 held by Babe Ruth is, for the game's greatest home run hitter, no longer out of the question.

2. Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners (8 first-place votes) "Big Dumper" Cal Raleigh has transformed into an absolute home run machine for the Mariners, currently leading all of MLB with an astounding 33 long balls on the season. What some might have initially dismissed as an early-season anomaly, Raleigh has proven to be pure power. His pre-July home run total places him in truly elite company, behind only Barry Bonds (39 in 2001) and Mark McGwire (37 in 1998) for most homers before the end of June in MLB history. The question surrounding Raleigh has shifted from whether he can maintain his pace to: will he hit 50? Or, daringly, 60?

3. José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians A testament to consistent excellence, José Ramírez has climbed into the top three of the AL MVP rankings, swapping places with Bobby Witt Jr. J-Ram's .871 OPS is remarkably consistent, just one point off his mark from last season. With 13 home runs and 21 stolen bases already to his name, Ramírez is delivering a stellar all-around season. However, given the colossal output from Judge and Raleigh, Ramírez will likely require an extraordinary second-half surge to capture the elusive MVP honor that has seen him finish among the AL MVP top six six times in his decorated career.

4. Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals While Bobby Witt Jr.'s 2025 campaign may not be mirroring his sensational runner-up MVP season from last year, he undeniably remains one of baseball's premier talents. Capable of igniting at any moment, Witt Jr. still boasts an OPS well over .800, indicating a strong offensive season. His slugging percentage, however, sits about 100 points below his 2024 mark. Defensively, the 25-year-old superstar continues to be an elite shortstop, with his sights set on a second consecutive Gold Glove Award.

5. Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers The presence of a pitcher in the top five of an MVP poll is rare, signaling a truly phenomenal season. Only two pitchers this century (Justin Verlander in 2011, Clayton Kershaw in 2014) have achieved MVP status. Tarik Skubal, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, is making a compelling case. He's arguably been even better in 2025 than in his Cy Young campaign, boasting a lower ERA (2.15), a lower FIP (1.98), and a higher strikeout rate (33.4%). While winning MVP might be a tall order against the current offensive leaders, Skubal's sustained dominance firmly places him among the league's elite.

Others receiving votes include: Jeremy Peña (Astros), Byron Buxton (Twins), Riley Greene (Tigers), Jacob Wilson (A’s), Jonathan Aranda (Rays), Junior Caminero (Rays), Hunter Brown (Astros), Alejandro Kirk (Blue Jays), Julio Rodríguez (Mariners), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays), Steven Kwan (Guardians), Garrett Crochet (White Sox).

National League MVP Race

1. Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (39 first-place votes) The incomparable Shohei Ohtani continues to lead the NL MVP poll, a position he's held firmly since his return to the mound last month. The two-way sensation has not only thrown the fastest pitch of his Major League career (101.7 mph) since his return, but also posted a sparkling 2.25 ERA over three starts. While his exploits on the mound are astounding, it is his hitting prowess that keeps him firmly atop this list. The three-time MVP leads the National League in homers (29), slugging (.633), OPS (1.021), and leads all of MLB in runs scored (82). Ohtani continues to make the near-impossible appear customary, consistently spoiling fans with his unparalleled talent. A fourth MVP Award would place him in incredibly exclusive company, with only Barry Bonds (seven) having won more than three MVP honors.

2. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs (3 first-place votes) Few saw this coming, but Pete Crow-Armstrong has silenced any doubters, proving his sensational performance is indeed the real deal. Midway through his second full Major League season, "PCA" has electrified the league with 21 home runs and 25 stolen bases, all while providing Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field. Crow-Armstrong's every at-bat has become must-see television, establishing him as one of the game's most dynamic players and a pivotal reason why the Cubs currently sit atop the NL Central standings.

3. Kyle Tucker, Chicago Cubs Crow-Armstrong isn't the only Cub making a significant impact on these rankings. Kyle Tucker, acquired in an offseason trade from the Astros, has been everything Chicago could have asked for. Jumping from No. 5 in our last MVP poll to the top three, Tucker boasts a remarkable 1.140 OPS and has launched four home runs over his past 12 games. His recent heroics include a four-hit performance against his former club in his return to Houston, capped by a home run.

4. Juan Soto, New York Mets (1 first-place vote) After what was considered a "slow" start (by his own lofty standards) to his inaugural season with the Mets, Juan Soto exploded in June. He posted a phenomenal .322/.474/.722 slash line and hammered 11 home runs, propelling him into the top five of these rankings. While the Mets as a team have experienced a slide, the scorching hot bat of their $765 million man offers a significant consolation for fans in Queens.

5. James Wood, Washington Nationals In just his second full season in the Majors, James Wood has rapidly emerged as one of the league's premier all-around outfielders. The imposing 6-foot-7, 234-pound slugger has not only put up impressive offensive numbers for Washington but has also showcased remarkable defensive agility for a player of his size. With a .938 OPS, 22 home runs, and 64 RBIs, coupled with +6 defensive runs saved, Wood has already accumulated nearly 4 WAR in just 84 games. His meteoric rise has landed him in the top five of our rankings, and it's certainly not hard to envision an MVP Award gracing his bright future in the years to come.

Others receiving votes include: Pete Alonso (Mets), Will Smith (Dodgers), Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres), Corbin Carroll (D-backs), Francisco Lindor (Mets), Elly De La Cruz (Reds), Trea Turner (Phillies), Ronald Acuña Jr. (Braves), Paul Skenes (Pirates), Freddie Freeman (Dodgers), Zack Wheeler (Phillies), Ketel Marte (D-backs), Kyle Schwarber (Phillies), Seiya Suzuki (Cubs).