“2025 MLB Award Predictions: Who Will Rise to Glory and Who Will Fall Short in a Season of Surprising Upsets?”

As we stand on the precipice of the 2025 MLB season, anticipation fills the air like the crack of a bat meeting a well-thrown pitch. Will we see the same familiar faces vying for the crown, or are we primed for a shakeup? Sure, names like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge loom large—comfortably coasting on their past accolades—yet every new season brings with it a dash of unpredictability! Who among the fresh-faced rookies will step up, poised to seize the spotlight? What about the seasoned veterans looking for redemption? As MLB writers Zach Crizer and Ryan Fagan lay down their predictions for the league’s most coveted awards—from MVP to Comeback Player of the Year—join me in pondering: will this year be the year we witness the emergence of the next baseball superstar? Insights, projections, and a bit of witty speculation await you below. LEARN MORE
The last pitcher to win back-to-back Cy Youngs was Jacob deGrom in 2018-19, and Skubal increasingly appears ready to make that kind of statement. Since returning from injury in July 2023, Skubal has laid down 272.1 innings of utter domination. Over that span, he ranks first among starters in strikeout rate, fifth in walk rate, second in home run rate and first in ERA. He also led all qualified pitchers with a 133 whiff+ and 123 strike+.

The Dark Horse: Atlanta Braves young right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach has rather incredible control – his walk rate was an elite 4.4% as a rookie – considering he throws six pitches on a regular basis. In his first 21 MLB starts last year, he posted a 3.35 ERA/3.29 FIP with a K/9 of 9.2. Is he the next Atlanta starter to make a major impact early in his career? 

Below, they make this year’s selections for all the major awards: MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year, plus Comeback Player of the Year:

The definition of “comeback player” is pretty vague. Does Ronald Acuna Jr. count? He wasn’t his MVP self, but he did have 222 plate appearances. What about Kyle Tucker, now with the Chicago Cubs? Are we limiting it to someone like Matt McLain, who missed all of 2024 after an outstanding half-season rookie debut? Spencer Strider only made two starts last year, so he certainly counts and he showed that electric stuff again in his late-spring outings. All three make great choices.

– Fagan

AL MVP: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals

MLB writers Zach Crizer and Ryan Fagan make their 2025 picks for all the major awards: MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year, plus Comeback Player of the Year.

Obviously, Paul Skenes is the overwhelming favorite, and if he stays healthy, he’ll win. But that’s a boring pick, right? I was talking with MLB Network analyst Dan Plesac earlier this month about a couple other topics, and before I wrapped up the interview, I asked him if there were any pitchers he felt were ready for a big breakthrough in 2025. He didn’t hesitate, “Hunter Greene,” he said. I told him that Greene has been my perennial dark horse Cy Young candidate each of the past couple years, to which Plesac responded: “Don’t jump off that boat now! Keep that life jacket on, man. I’m buying. I think this is the year he breaks through!”

From that day forward, the 2023 NL Rookie of the Year ripped off a .267/.358/.573 line and accrued all-around value at a rate rivaling Shohei Ohtani and Francisco Lindor. Five years younger than either of those proven MVP contenders, the diminutive but explosive outfielder has room to keep growing and seize the throne.

NL MVP: Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks

From that day forward, the 2023 NL Rookie of the Year ripped off a .267/.358/.573 line and accrued all-around value at a rate rivaling Shohei Ohtani and Francisco Lindor. Five years younger than either of those proven MVP contenders, the diminutive but explosive outfielder has room to keep growing and seize the throne.

AL Rookie of the Year: Jackson Jobe, Detroit Tigers 

From that day forward, the 2023 NL Rookie of the Year ripped off a .267/.358/.573 line and accrued all-around value at a rate rivaling Shohei Ohtani and Francisco Lindor. Five years younger than either of those proven MVP contenders, the diminutive but explosive outfielder has room to keep growing and seize the throne.

NL Rookie of the Year: Drake Baldwin, Atlanta Braves

From that day forward, the 2023 NL Rookie of the Year ripped off a .267/.358/.573 line and accrued all-around value at a rate rivaling Shohei Ohtani and Francisco Lindor. Five years younger than either of those proven MVP contenders, the diminutive but explosive outfielder has room to keep growing and seize the throne.

The Dark Horse: Does Cooperstown-bound right-hander Justin Verlander have one (or more) All-Star caliber season left in that golden right arm? He made 17 starts last year, but produced the worst numbers of his career for the Astros with a 5.48 ERA, career-worst 9.8 H/9 and career-low 7.4 K/9. He’s looked healthy and effective this spring for the San Francisco Giants, though, and haven’t we learned not to count out Verlander? 
Ahead of opening day, it’s time to do some ill-fated forecasting of the award winners. Last year, MLB writers Ryan Fagan and Zach Crizer didn’t do too badly, combining to correctly pick Tarik Skubal as AL Cy Young, and name eventual winners Chris Sale and Skenes as dark horses for the National League’s Cy Young and Rookie of the Year nods.