The MVP trophy seemed to practically be reserved in Shohei Ohtani’s name before the All-Star break. His moonshot homers, otherworldly plate discipline, and headline-grabbing contract had made him the face and force of the 2025 season. Every night felt like an Ohtani highlight reel, and most in baseball were ready to hand him another piece of hardware without much debate.

However, baseball has a way of doing its thing. Right now, Kyle Schwarber, in Philadelphia, is the one calling the shots. The guy has exploded onto the MVP scene, and with not a lot of subtlety. Schwarber’s performance is impossible to ignore. As of August 5, Schwarber has 40 home runs, 94 RBIs, and a blistering .975 OPS. In a season that’s demanded star power, Schwarber has answered by becoming something more: a legitimate MVP threat.

And right now, he’s not just chasing history — he’s chasing Shohei Ohtani himself.

“This is the best year he’s put together in his whole career,” former MLB player and analyst Xavier Scruggs said. “In a walk year, this man is about to get super paid.”

Schwarber’s resurgence isn’t luck. It’s the product of evolution. He’s refined his approach at age 32, slashing strikeouts, elevating walks, and, perhaps most impressively, torching left-handed pitching, long considered his Achilles’ heel. Gone is the one-dimensional masher. In his place? A complete hitter who’s playing with fire and freedom.

While Ohtani is still amazing to watch every time he steps up to the field, the gap is getting smaller. At the moment, Schwarber is tops in the National League for home runs and RBIs. Two stats that don’t always get the respect they deserve from some of the metrics, but matter when it comes to MVP votes. And unlike Ohtani, he’s carrying a team that desperately needs his production to stay afloat in the postseason race.

So what started as Shohei Ohtani’s award is suddenly an open battlefield as Schwarber has planted a flag where few thought he’d stand. More importantly, MVP voters now face a dilemma: crown the icon, or reward the season that’s turning heads and shifting power. The final stretch of 2025 won’t just decide playoff seeds; it might determine which superstar walks away with baseball’s highest individual honor. And for now, Kyle Schwarber isn’t just part of the race; he might be the one leading it.

Cal Raleigh, Kyle Schwarber, Shohei Ohtani: A three-horse race with a legendary target

The long ball has always had a way of capturing baseball’s imagination, and it’s doing more than that in 2025; it’s rewriting the season’s script. What began as Shohei Ohtani’s show has suddenly turned into a three-man brawl for baseball’s most iconic number: 60. Cal Raleigh, the Detroit Tigers’ power-packed catcher, currently leads the charge with 42 homers. But after Kyle Schwarber’s explosive two-homer game and Ohtani sitting just behind at 38, this isn’t just a power race; it’s a collision course.

Schwarber isn’t just swinging for the fences; he’s delivering when it matters most. His latest moonshots came with two outs and high pressure, proving he’s not rattled by the spotlight. He seems to crave it. With 40 home runs, Schwarber hasn’t just edged past Ohtani; he’s thrown down the gauntlet. This isn’t Ohtani’s solo spotlight anymore, and the league knows it.

And then there’s Cal Raleigh, quietly crushing baseballs like it’s routine. This guy is not in it for the fame; he’s just trying to hit 60 home runs. While everyone’s obsessing over Schwarber and Ohtani but Raleigh doesn’t let it faze him. He just keeps on hitting. The pace he’s on? It’s creeping into territory we usually reserve for legends, Ruth, Maris, and Bonds. That kind of company doesn’t come with hype; it comes with history.

Reaching 60 home runs has become a nearly mythical milestone, achieved by only a select few. Ruth in 1927. Maris in 1961. Judge in 2022. Bonds, McGwire, and Sosa pushed it beyond the imaginable. Now, these three modern sluggers are threatening to crash that elite club. With nearly two months of baseball left and the stakes rising by the day, fans aren’t just watching, they’re scoreboard-checking nightly. The race is real. The math adds up. And the drama? It’s just getting started.