The 2025 MLB season brought a wild parade of unforgettable single-game masterpieces. MLB.com’s team-by-team breakdown tried to capture the very best of them.
From near-perfect pitching clinics to four-homer explosions, these performances didn’t just fill box scores. They told the story of a season defined by extremes—power, precision, and a ton of poise under pressure.
Pitching Clinics: Near Perfection and Classic Maddux Masterpieces
On the mound, 2025 became the year pitchers kept flirting with history. A bunch of arms authored performances that would stand out in any era, mixing overpowering stuff with ruthless efficiency.
Near-Perfect Games and Postseason Dominance
For the Orioles, Brandon Young flirted with baseball immortality, carrying a near-perfect game deep into the late innings. Over in Cleveland, Gavin Williams spun a similar masterpiece for the Guardians, commanding all four quadrants of the strike zone and making big league hitters look helpless.
October just cranked up the drama. The Blue Jays called on rookie Trey Yesavage and got a postseason debut for the ages: a no-hitter on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
In the Bronx, the Yankees’ Cam Schlittler fired off a 12-strikeout gem that didn’t just look good on paper—it eliminated the Red Sox. That instantly etched his outing into one of the rivalry’s modern touchstones.
Maddux Gems and Strikeout Clinics
The old-school art of the efficient shutout made a comeback. Tarik Skubal of the Tigers and Nathan Eovaldi of the Rangers each tossed a Maddux—a complete game shutout on fewer than 100 pitches.
In this era of pitch counts and deep bullpens, those outings felt almost mythical. Meanwhile, strikeout prowess made several starts must-watch events.
MacKenzie Gore set the tone for the Nationals with a 13-strikeout, no-walk tour de force on Opening Day. For the Braves, Grant Holmes piled up 15 strikeouts in a losing effort—a reminder that dominance doesn’t always guarantee a win, but it sure leaves a mark on the season’s lore.
Power Shows: Four-Homer Games and All-Around Offensive Fireworks
If pitching defined the season’s tension, the bats supplied its exclamation points. Several hitters put up single-game performances so loud they echoed throughout the league.
Four-Homer History and Cycles
Only a handful of players in MLB history have ever hit four home runs in a single game. Somehow, 2025 delivered a stunning trio to that exclusive club:
Not every offensive showcase was about pure power. For the Twins, Byron Buxton put his whole skill set on display with a cycle, blending speed, gap power, and slugging in one unforgettable performance.
Shohei Ohtani’s NLCS Masterpiece and Multi-Dimensional Stars
Shohei Ohtani took the idea of a great game and pushed it into the realm of legend. In the NLCS, he delivered one of the greatest single-game performances in postseason history for the Dodgers: three home runs at the plate and six scoreless innings on the mound.
It wasn’t just dominance; it was the fullest expression of the two-way revolution he’s led. Elsewhere, emerging talents delivered statement games.
The Rays’ Junior Caminero turned in a historic all-around night that showed why he’s considered one of the game’s brightest young stars, impacting the contest in every phase. For the Royals, rookie Noah Cameron nearly threw a no-hitter in his debut, immediately altering expectations for his future in Kansas City.
Catchers, Clutch Moments, and Season-Defining Performances
Behind the plate, two catchers helped turn 2025 into a landmark season for their position. They delivered power displays that doubled as franchise milestones.
Historic Catcher Power and Late-Season Drama
In Seattle, Cal Raleigh did more than just anchor the Mariners’ staff. His bat became the story when he launched his 59th and 60th home runs in the same game—a pair of blasts that clinched the AL West title.
It was a blend of power and timing that every contender dreams about in the season’s final days. Over in St. Louis, Iván Herrera carved out his own piece of history, becoming the first Cardinals catcher ever to hit three home runs in a game.
For a franchise rich in catching tradition, that’s no small feat.
Complete Offensive Showcases Across the League
Several other performances rounded out the season’s highlight reel with complete offensive dominance.
For the Astros, Jake Meyers stacked up 13 total bases and seven RBIs in one game. He basically turned the lineup card into his own personal stat sheet—pretty wild to watch.
Across all 30 clubs, these single-game feats came from both rookies and established stars. They captured the essence of the 2025 campaign.
Historic milestones and bursts of individual brilliance mixed with high-stakes drama. All of it shaped not just team trajectories, but the broader story of a season that honestly stands out for its sheer range of excellence.
Here is the source article for this story: Each team’s best single-game performance of ’25
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