“It’s Ohtani — he’s the G.O.A.T.” That’s something you hear a lot in the Dodgers’ dugout. And who can disagree? Shohei Ohtani is a two-way wonder with a 50-strikeout & 50-homer record in a single season. Those numbers alone put him in the same league as Babe Ruth. But when active players voted for the MLB Player of the Year, Ohtani’s name wasn’t on that list. Surprising, isn’t it? The same goes for Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ power hitter, who is in the same league as Ruth when it comes to slugging efficiency, with 0.09 home runs per plate appearance. Yet, neither of them was named this year’s greatest.

The MLB Players Association hosts the Players’ Choice Awards each season, letting players honor their peers. Founded in 1992, they’re valued for their insights from those who know the game best. Unlike the official MVP awards by the Baseball Writers’ Association, the results don’t always align—and this year’s picks sparked plenty of buzz.

Players often value leadership, clubhouse presence, and clutch moments over pure stats. That may explain why Raleigh’s all-around influence or Schwarber’s consistency resonated more than Ohtani’s historic numbers.

On Wednesday, Talkin’ Baseball posted on X: “Active players have voted Cal Raleigh as MLB Player of the Year and Most Outstanding AL Player. Kyle Schwarber was voted as the NL’s Most Outstanding Player.” Raleigh over Judge? Schwarber over Shohei Ohtani?

The numbers tell a compelling story when you compare Shohei Ohtani and Schwarber. Ohtani ended the regular season with an average of .282 with 55 home runs, 102 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases.

He had the most runs scored (146), total bases (380), extra-base hits (89), and OPS (1.014) in the NL. The two-way star also walked a career-high 109 times, making him the only player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs, walk 100 times, and steal 20 bases in one season.

Meanwhile, Schwarber hit 56 home runs and drove in 132 runs, which was the most in the NL. He also set career highs in OPS (.928) and batting average (.256). So, was it the consistency that got him the best player award over Shohei Ohtani? Maybe.

Meanwhile, in the AL, the race between Cal Raleigh and the Yankee slugger has been very tight. Judge hit 52 home runs and had a .281 average in 2025, which was part of his characteristic power explosion. Raleigh, on the other hand, led the Mariners through a vital postseason drive, establishing career highs in almost every offensive measure.

The Mariners’ catcher hit 60 home runs, becoming the only catcher in MLB history to do it in a single season. With more than 130 RBIs and excellent defensive play behind the plate, that factor might have turned the voters in his favor.

After the result, Raleigh was humbled to get the award. In a video message, he said, “I want to thank all the voters and all the players out there. I appreciate you guys. It’s something I thought would never happen. It’s truly an honor. There are a lot of great players out there. This could’ve gone to. Thank you very much.”
This isn’t the first time the Players’ Choice Awards have gone their own way. In 2018, players picked Mookie Betts as their top performer, while the writers’ MVP honor went to Christian Yelich.

Beyond the big names, the 2025 Players’ Choice Awards recognized excellence across every corner of baseball—from dominant pitchers to inspiring comebacks.

Beyond the big names: The stars who shone in 2025

The Detroit Tigers’ ace, Tarik Skubal, won the AL Outstanding Pitcher title following a season in which he had a 2.41 ERA and struck out 230 batters. His calmness and accuracy on the mound helped Detroit get back on track in the AL.

Meanwhile, Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates won the Outstanding Pitcher award in the NL. With a scorching fastball and a 16–4 record, the rookie sensation soon established himself as one of MLB’s most promising young pitchers.

The awards recognized leaders beyond the diamond as well. Brent Suter received the Marvin Miller Man of the Year award for his environmental and community efforts. Aaron Nola was named Philanthropist of the Year for his charity work focused on education and medical care for young people. The Curt Flood Award honored Don Baylor and Scott Sanderson posthumously for their contributions to improving players’ rights in MLB.

The categories for rookies and comebacks were just as important. Nick Kurtz (AL) stood out with his consistent power hitting and maturity beyond his years. Drake Baldwin (NL) showed poise and plate discipline, making it clear he has a bright future ahead of him.

In the comeback stories, Jacob deGrom came back from an injury and took his place among the best pitchers in the game. Ronald Acuna Jr. came back from a rough 2024 to have a great season that was worthy of an All-Star.