Cal Raleigh Challenges Aaron Judge in Tight AL MVP Race

The 2025 American League MVP race is intensely competitive between Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh and New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. Raleigh has made history by hitting 60 home runs, becoming the first catcher ever to reach that milestone and breaking multiple records, including those for catchers and switch hitters, while leading the Mariners to their first AL West title since 2001. Judge, a three-time reigning MVP, continues to display elite offensive production with a superior slash line and league-leading OPS, and he recently set the AL record for intentional walks, underscoring the respect he commands from pitchers. The debate hinges not only on offensive statistics but also on the intangible value of Raleigh's defensive impact and leadership behind the plate, aspects that traditional metrics sometimes fail to fully capture. Analysts emphasize that even advanced metrics such as fWAR show Judge slightly ahead, but Raleigh's contributions to his team's success and his historical power numbers have elevated his candidacy, signaling a rare renaissance for catchers in MVP discussions. With the season's final games approaching, the race remains wide open, promising dramatic finishes as both players chase major milestones and team success.