Why AL MVP Voters Chose Aaron Judge Over Cal Raleigh

The 2025 American League MVP race was flat-out wild. Two extraordinary but totally different players — Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh — went head-to-head and gave us one of the most intense MVP debates in recent memory.

What does “most valuable” even mean? Is it about record-breaking offense, or does it include the grind of defense, leadership, and playing tough positions? This year, baseball writers couldn’t agree, and honestly, that made the whole thing way more interesting.

The Final MVP Tally

When it was all said and done, Aaron Judge took home the award. He racked up 17 first-place votes and finished with 355 points.

Cal Raleigh had a strong showing too, pulling in 13 first-place votes. He came up just short, but the tight vote really says a lot about how split everyone felt.

Why This Race Was Different

Most years, there’s one guy with the gaudy stats who runs away with it. Not in 2025.

Voters had to pick between Judge’s outrageous offense and Raleigh’s rare blend of power, durability, and defense. Both cases had real weight and made even veteran writers stop and think.

The Case for Cal Raleigh

Writers like Tyler Kepner and Britt Ghiroli stumped hard for Raleigh. Their arguments didn’t stop at home runs or batting average — though, wow, Raleigh’s stats were wild.

• Record-setting season as a catcher: Raleigh hit 60 home runs, smashing records for catchers and switch-hitters alike.
• Defensive workload: Catcher is brutal. It takes stamina, focus, and a pretty ridiculous level of toughness to get through 162 games back there.
• Leadership impact: Raleigh’s presence behind the plate helped push Seattle to a division title. That’s not nothing.

Ghiroli pointed out that “value” goes way beyond just offense. The mental grind and leadership that come with catching at this level? That’s a huge part of it.

The Case for Aaron Judge

On the flip side, Chandler Rome and Zack Meisel made a strong case for Judge. They focused on his historic offense and where he fits among the game’s legends.

• Historic season at the plate: Judge put up a .331 average, .457 OBP, and .688 slugging. His 204 OPS+? Just absurd.
• Comparisons to legends: Meisel said Judge’s year belonged with the all-time greats, even mentioning Barry Bonds — that’s high praise.
• League-wide respect: Rome talked about how Judge flat-out scared pitchers and changed games just by stepping in the box.

For these voters, Judge’s steady dominance from April through September defined “most valuable.” If you want a pure hitter, he was your guy.

The Larger MVP Debate

This MVP race really put the spotlight on how murky the award’s definition is. There’s no set formula for “value,” so voters get to decide what matters most.

Numbers Versus Context

Some folks lean on stats to compare players across eras. Others care more about context — how tough the position is, who leads in the clubhouse, who drags their team into the playoffs.

Honestly, that split is part of the fun. It keeps MVP debates alive, year after year.

Judge vs. Raleigh: Contrasting Greatness

Judge’s season was a showcase of raw hitting power. He pushed modern offense to the edge.

Raleigh? He was all about endurance and doing it all — offense, defense, leadership. Two totally different versions of greatness, and both belong in the conversation for what baseball is in this era.

A Race That Will Resonate

In the end, Judge took home the hardware. Raleigh’s performance still carved out his place in history as one of the most remarkable catchers the game has seen.

This MVP race will spark offseason debates for fans and analysts. It’s hard not to wonder how future voters will weigh offense against the relentless grind of demanding positions.

 
Here is the source article for this story: AL MVP voters break down their choice now that Aaron Judge has prevailed over Cal Raleigh