Opening Day is here, and the 2025 Major League Baseball season has arrived. We’ve already put together our team-wide predictions, from division winners to pennants to the World Series championship picks. It’s now time to try and nail down the player awards.
The fun part about the awards is we’re bound to get a mixed bag of chalk and shock. The MVPs last season were Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, but the Cy Young winners were Tarik Skubal and a 35-year-old Chris Sale. Who had Luis Gil taking the AL Rookie of the Year? Then again, Paul Skenes on the National League side wasn’t all too surprising.
Let’s get to it.
2025 MLB standings predictions: Expert picks for every division, full projections as baseball season begins
Matt Snyder
American League awards picks
R.J. Anderson: Gilbert is about as close as I get to a true “surprise” pick. Truth be told, I was going to go with Garrett Crochet but I was worried everyone else would pick him, too. Gilbert’s an above-average pitcher who gets to perform in a friendly ballpark. That’s a good pairing. I’m going with Smith as Rookie of the Year because I think he’ll get an extended opportunity and he could take full advantage of the Crawford Boxes. Otherwise, I played it safe here.
Mike Axisa: I wanted to go with Mike Trout or Jacob deGrom for Comeback Player of the Year, but counting on guys in their 30s to stay healthy when they haven’t stayed healthy the last few years is a tough sell. Bichette is only 27, he was a top performer between 2019 and 2023, and he played through injuries last year. It’s not like his skills collapsed. He’s healthy now and my Comeback Player of the Year pick. As for the other awards, I mean, those are pretty straightforward. Henderson is one of the best players in the world, Crochet had a credible Cy Young case most of last season, and Rocker has a clear path to playing time. That’s half the battle for Rookie of the Year candidates.
Kate Feldman: I really wanted to go with someone bold for MVP and I guess picking Witt over Judge is a bit of a hot take but you can’t go wrong there. deGrom looked fantastic in his three starts at the end of 2024 on his way back from elbow surgery. If he can stay on the field (a huge if), the Cy Young is his. Kristian Campbell isn’t even the top-ranked prospect in his own organization but let’s get nuts. Manager of the Year and comeback player awards have no rhyme or reason. Whatever.
Julian McWilliams: It’s Witt’s world. He’s the epitome of a five-tool player who impacts winning and had a breakout year last season. Had it not been for Aaron Judge, Witt would have easily taken home the AL MVP award. Crochet, Campbell, and Cora (yes it’s Red Sox heavy) will take home the crown(s) in their respective categories, turning things around after what has been a stale half decade for the Sox. Meanwhile, Torres, who had a stellar postseason with the Yankees last year, will benefit from a change of scenery and a manager like A.J. Hinch.
Dayn Perry: I just can’t bring myself to predict health on the part of Jacob deGrom, so instead I predict health on the part of Mike Trout. It’s possible I’m being foolish. The rest of these selections are pretty obvious, if not indisputable.
Matt Snyder: Witt might be the best all-around position player in baseball and he’s still only scratched the surface. I’ve got the Royals winning the AL Central, which means he’ll have extra narrative on his side. Ragans was relatively quiet last year and still finished fourth in Cy Young voting. He’s liable to get to 200 innings with 250 strikeouts this time around. I have the Red Sox winning the AL East and if that happens, Cora takes the Manager award.
National League awards picks
Anderson: Now that Chris Sale has a Cy, it’s time for Wheeler to get his. Elsewhere, I think Chandler will continue the recent tradition of stud Pirates rookie right-handers. I’m never sure what, exactly, qualifies a player for comeback consideration.
MLB World Series predictions: Expert picks for 2025 champion, pennant winners with Dodgers favored to repeat
Experts have weighed in on their predictions for the upcoming MLB season. Here are some key points from their analysis:
– Ray has had limited appearances in the last two seasons, making him a justifiable choice for recognition.
– Wheeler is considered by some to be the best pitcher in baseball and is expected to win the Cy Young award this year.
– Ohtani continues to impress and is a strong contender for MVP.
– Sasaki’s workload management may pave the way for Shaw to win Rookie of the Year.
– Strider is a solid pick for Comeback Player of the Year.
– Juan Soto is a favorite for a standout season.
– Paul Skenes is predicted to shine as one of the top pitchers in the league.
– Roki Sasaki is a strong candidate for NL Rookie of the Year.
– Terry Francona is expected to lead the Reds to success with their young talent.
– Tucker, Wheeler, and Lawlar are also mentioned as potential award winners.
The experts have made their choices, but only time will tell if their predictions come to fruition. Stay tuned for an exciting MLB season ahead. text in a different way:
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