2025 MLB Awards So Far: A Familiar Cast of Champions and Contenders

If you’re getting a sense of déjà vu from this year’s Major League Baseball awards season, you’re not alone. The 2025 honors have felt a lot like a well-executed sequel-same stars, same accolades, and a whole lot of repeat performances. From the Dodgers’ rare back-to-back World Series titles to the major individual awards handed out by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, the trend has been clear: excellence is repeating itself.

Let’s start with the managers. Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers and Stephen Vogt of the Cleveland Guardians both took home Manager of the Year honors-and both did it in just their second seasons at the helm.

That’s not just impressive; it’s historic. Back-to-back wins for both franchises in this category speak volumes about how quickly these skippers have earned the trust of their clubs and the respect of the league.

Now, if there’s any surprise in the Manager of the Year conversation, it might be that John Schneider didn’t take home the award in the American League. After all, Schneider guided the Blue Jays from the bottom of the AL East to within two outs of a World Series title.

That’s the kind of turnaround that usually grabs voters’ attention. But Vogt’s win is a testament to the steady, culture-changing impact he’s had in Cleveland-a franchise that’s been quietly building something sustainable.

Moving on to the mound, the Cy Young races offered little in the way of drama-but plenty of dominance.

In the American League, Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal secured his second straight Cy Young Award, edging out Boston’s Garrett Crochet and Houston’s Hunter Brown. Skubal’s back-to-back performance puts him in elite company-he’s the first AL pitcher to go two-for-two since Pedro Martinez did it in 1999 and 2000.

That’s not just a statistical feat; it’s a statement. Skubal has emerged as a true frontline force, anchoring a Tigers rotation that’s suddenly looking like a serious threat in the AL.

Over in the National League, Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates left no room for debate. The rookie sensation was a unanimous winner, beating out Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sánchez and Dodgers World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Skenes’ dominance this season wasn’t just eye-catching-it was historic. He didn’t just pitch like a top prospect; he pitched like a seasoned ace, commanding every start with a presence well beyond his years.

And remember, these awards are voted on before the postseason, so what Skenes did during the regular season was more than enough to lock this one up.

With the Cy Young trophies now claimed, that leaves just two major pieces of hardware left on the board: the MVP awards.

In the American League, the race feels wide open. Will Aaron Judge continue the 2025 trend and secure his second consecutive MVP?

Or will Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh ride his record-setting season to the top of the ballot? Raleigh’s offensive explosion and leadership behind the plate made him a cornerstone in Seattle’s resurgence.

But Judge is, well, Judge-his combination of power, presence, and production is hard to ignore.

The National League MVP, on the other hand, seems like a foregone conclusion. Shohei Ohtani, now strictly a designated hitter for the Dodgers, is poised to take home his fourth MVP award-and second in a row.

Even without taking the mound this season, Ohtani’s bat did more than enough damage to keep him in the MVP conversation all year long. He’s not just the face of the Dodgers; he’s the face of baseball.

And while the spotlight has been on the league’s biggest names, there’s a growing sense of optimism in Oakland. A’s fans have seen some bright spots, and the question now is: how long before players in kelly green and gold are in the thick of every awards race?

Could the next Rookie of the Year already be suiting up for the Aviators, RockHounds, or Lugnuts? Will Nick Kurtz build on his promising rookie campaign and make a run at MVP consideration next season?

And what about the arms-Jacob Lopez, Luis Morales, or J.T. Ginn-could one of them take the leap into Cy Young territory?

The A’s may not be dominating headlines just yet, but the foundation is being laid. With a pipeline of young talent and a front office focused on development, it’s not hard to envision a future where Oakland is more than just a footnote in the awards conversation.

For now, though, the 2025 MLB awards season is shaping up to be a celebration of sustained excellence. The same names.

The same dominance. And maybe-just maybe-a glimpse of what’s to come.