Aaron Judge has had a dominant 2025 season and that is the reason why he earned the American League MVP. He won the American League batting title with a .331 average. He had 53 home runs while driving in 114 RBIs. His on-base percentage was .457, slugging percentage was .688, and OPS 1.145.
Another reason the award was well deserved was the level of competition he faced. Judge was competing with a very strong MVP candidate, Cal Raleigh of the Mariners. Cal Raleigh also had a great season, but Judge won the MVP vote 355-335. This vote showed how competitive the MVP race was. In the end, Judge edged out the well-deserved win.
When Tony Rinkiewicz was asked, “What are your thoughts about Judge winning the 2025 MVP?” Rinkiewicz said, “It was well deserved. Judge didn’t just have a great season, he carried the Yankees. Judge led the league in almost every category.”
He was also asked, “Did you think the MVP race would be close?” Rinkiewicz replied, “Some people thought the race would be close but for me it wasn’t. Judge showed up every game and proved he is the kind of player who makes an entire team better.”
Finally, Judge’s toughness and ability to perform under pressure made his MVP case even stronger. Even while battling a minor injury, he kept producing at an elite level, and stayed focused on helping the New York Yankees win. His end-of-the-season finish was so impressive. He was hitting .374 with 13 home runs in the last 30 games. This showed exactly why Aaron Judge deserved to be named the American League MVP.
