The announcement of Aaron Judge as the 2025 American League MVP was supposed to be a celebration of another extraordinary season for one of baseball’s biggest stars. Instead, it ignited a firestorm that has divided analysts, players, and fans across the sport. While Judge claimed his third career MVP award, many argue that Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh — coming off one of the most remarkable seasons ever by a backstop — was the rightful winner.
The MVP vote was among the closest in recent memory. Judge edged Raleigh by a small margin in first-place votes, a result that surprised large portions of the baseball community. Judge’s statistical dominance at the plate was undeniable. He posted an elite batting average, crushed over 50 home runs, led the league in OPS, and finished near the top in WAR. For many voters, these offensive metrics made him the most obvious — and safest — choice.
However, the backlash was immediate. Supporters of Raleigh pointed to the historic nature of his season: hitting 60 home runs, driving in more than 120 runs, and doing so while carrying the grueling responsibilities of a full-time catcher. In a position defined by physical endurance, defensive leadership, and managing a pitching staff, Raleigh’s offensive explosion is the kind of achievement that rarely occurs in MLB history. To many, that blend of production and difficulty represented a level of value that Judge, primarily a power-hitting outfielder and designated hitter, could not match.
As fans debated online, the deeper question emerged: What does “Most Valuable Player” actually mean? Is it simply the athlete with the best hitting statistics? Or is it the player whose role, durability, and complete contribution truly elevate their team? Supporters of Raleigh argued that he was the Mariners’ engine — a clubhouse anchor, the heart of their lineup, and a defensive foundation that shaped every inning he played.
Critics of the final vote also pointed to environmental context. Judge plays half his games in a homer-friendly park, while Raleigh competes in one of the most challenging stadiums for hitters. Adding to that, the catcher’s workload — squatting for nine innings, absorbing foul tips, calling games, and maintaining focus pitch after pitch — makes Raleigh’s offensive numbers even more impressive.
Still, Judge’s case remained strong. His consistency throughout the season, ability to carry the Yankees during key stretches, and overwhelming offensive power have long cemented him as one of the sport’s premier superstars. To many voters, MVP is an offensive award first and foremost — and Judge’s bat was simply too spectacular to overlook.
But the controversy underscores a growing frustration with how MLB evaluates talent. Many believe that traditional metrics fail to capture the full picture, especially for demanding defensive positions like catcher or shortstop. Raleigh’s near-MVP season may push future voters to rethink how they measure excellence, weighing defensive impact and positional difficulty more heavily.
For now, Judge walks away with another MVP trophy, while Raleigh earns admiration, sympathy, and the belief from many that he deserved better. The debate will continue well into next season, but one thing is clear: the 2025 MVP race did more than crown a winner — it forced baseball to confront how it defines greatness.
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