Just when we thought we knew it all in baseball, we were hit by surprising information. Aaron Judge and Ohtani are not the only ones who actually play baseball as their lives depend on it. Honestly, we do have some great players out there. The only thing or the only reason why we and fans are surprised is because the two MLB players mentioned have taken so much of the spotlight, which has placed some players in the shadows. However, the Midseason MVP poll not only features Judge and Ohtani but there are new NL names as well. This is what I am talking about: a recognition of others as well.
Curiosity has got the best of us, but we know who is always in the mix, Judge or Ohtani?
The MLB season is halfway, and curiosity is killing people. Fans want their favorites to at least make it in the top 5, but it does not automatically work like that. There are things to consider, and you will realize that those who are expected to make it at the bottom might make it in third or fourth place, not to mention that is what this poll communicates, but it is just a general thing that can happen unexpectedly.
We cannot ignore or run away from the “usual” names. They will always be mentioned and in the mix. Depending on how you see it, it is a fact or a truth. Okay, so we are about to get into the real deal, that which you have been waiting for. It does not matter how you see it or what your expectations are; this is a shift in something and a change in the players, something like leadership styles and all the good stuff.
Though they are not alone, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani continue to dominate the MVP discussion
Two of the MLB’s favorite players are not being excluded. However, they are not the only ones who have made it to the poll. In fact, the list has new names that show how much baseball players are putting in the work. A 5-4-3-2-1 scale was used by voters to rank their top five selections in each league; five points were awarded for first place, four for second, and so on.
One MLB scout openly expressed,
“We might be watching two of the greatest seasons unfold side by side.”
Rising American and National League players upending the 2025 MVP contest
Credit to these MLB players who have shown how it is done in the first 50% of the season. Every team has been represented, and every player has broken the barrier. Here are the results:
The American League
- Aaron Judge, Yankees (35 first-place votes).
- Cal Raleigh, Mariners (eight first-place votes).
- José RamÃrez, Guardians.
- Bobby Witt Jr., Royals.
- Tarik Skubal, Tigers.
The National League
- Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (39 first-place votes), the player who achieved a record-breaking debut and topped 100 mph.
- Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (three first-place votes).
- Kyle Tucker, Cubs.
- Juan Soto, Mets (one first-place vote).
- James Wood, Nationals.
The National League names are not just there to add names or to fill in the register, but they are evidence that although Aaron Judge and Ohtani are the cream of the MLB currently, they are setting the pace, an example, and inspiration, and sooner or later, the upcoming players can take charge of the list as well. You know, we can already see it with Elly De La Cruz breaking a new record by pushing the HR streak to 4 games. In the next season, he and other players can also take center stage. As we look into the remaining half, we will see how it all unfolds and how the MLB grows, too.
