The 2025 MLB season is approaching its midpoint, and conversations about what player will get the coveted MVP award have become high-pitched. While Shohei Ohtani is a favorite to bag this prestigious award, this year’s MVP race featuring new talents and superstars makes it one of the most competitive ever.
This guide will run you through the top five MVP contenders this year. Ohtani is the favorite in the National League. Find out why that is and who else is trailing him.
#1 Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Shohei Ohtani is 30 years old, and he isn’t letting his foot off the gas yet. His unrivaled work ethic has seen him become one of the best batters and pitchers in MLB history.
2025 hasn’t been rosy for Ohtani. After recovering from an elbow surgery, he has returned to the mound. However, this is in limited capacity, as the Dodgers aim to wean him back to his best without injuries cropping up again.
Despite a lengthy spell on the sidelines, he holds the third-highest number of home runs and is tied for eighth place in the WAR charts. With the Dodgers bound to integrate him as a pitcher in subsequent games, Ohtani is likely to earmark a comeback before the season’s conclusion.
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Ohtani won the NL MVP award in 2024. There’s a good chance he’ll scoop the award for the second time in a row, marking the fourth one of his career.
#2 Pete Crow-Armstrong (Chicago Cubs)
Crow-Armstrong is one of the newest talents in the MLB. Despite being only 23, his stellar offensive and defensive traits and uncapped energy have contributed to the Cubs’ success this season.
He’s gathered mind-blowing numbers in 2025. He’s gotten 19 home runs, 52 scored runs, 23 stolen bases, and 58 RBIs. As such, it’s no surprise that he’s vaulted into contention for the MVP award.
#3 Corbin Caroll (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Caroll has maintained his reputation as one of the most dynamic players in the baseball scene. He broke out in 2023, where he won the National League Rookie of the Year award.
After Caroll hit this high, performances in the subsequent season slumped. All he did to rediscover his form was to change his swinging style. This tweak has seen him become red-hot in 2025. Caroll is currently on a .255 batting average with 73 hits, 57 runs, 20 homers, and 44 RBIs across post-season and regular events. If he continues in the same fashion, he’ll have more than just a shot at the MVP award.
#4 Pete Alonso (New York Mets)
The New York Mets lost to the Dodgers in the NLCS last season. They’ve started 2025 on a high, and much of this success is thanks to the actions of Pete Alonso on the mound.
Alonso’s production has been nothing short of relentless this season. He places among the league leaders in RBIs (63) and OPS (.948). If the New York Mets reach the playoffs and emerge successful, his candidacy for MVP glory could get serious traction.
#5 Juan Soto (New York Mets)
Soto made his way to the New York Mets early this year in one of the biggest deals in MLB history. His start to the 2025 season has been a bit rougher than expected. At around the halfway point in the season, he has 14 home runs, 37 RBIs, and a .248 overall batting average. This is solid but not as impressive as his 2024 Yankees numbers.
However, the MLB is a league where comeback stories are the norm. If he can replicate his Yankees form for the remainder of this season, there’s a chance he’ll place in the top spots of the final MVP rankings.
This year’s MVP race is super competitive. It features new talents and superstars who have been at the top of their game for years. While Ontani is the favorite to win this year’s MVP award, we’re only just halfway through the season, and the competition isn’t backing down. Players like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Corbin Caroll, and Pete Alonso are putting in mind-blowing numbers. As such, this race is far from being settled.
