Cal Raleigh has been on a tear this year, blasting his way into the record books. The Seattle Mariners catcher recently passed Mickey Mantle for the most home runs in a single season by a switch-hitter. With 56 homers and 118 RBI, he’s leading the American League in two of baseball’s biggest power categories.
Most seasons, that kind of production makes you the clear choice for MVP. But according to Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus, the 2025 race isn’t really a race at all.
“I understand, as a former catcher, Cal Raleigh is having an unbelievable year,” Ausmus told MLB Network Radio.“Certainly deserving of MVP votes. I just don’t think it’s close.”.
Judge’s all-around dominance
Ausmus explained his case with a simple comparison: take 180 OPS points away from Aaron Judge, and you land at Raleigh’s numbers. Knock the same amount off Raleigh, and he becomes an average major leaguer.
Whether you agree or not, the stats favor Judge. Raleigh owns the home run and RBI crown, but Judge leads almost everywhere else. The Yankees star has 48 home runs and 104 RBI, along with a .327 batting average, .452 on-base percentage, .673 slugging, and a league-best 1.124 OPS. He also tops the majors in runs (127), walks (116), total bases (345), and WAR (8.6), per Baseball Reference.
Those numbers put him in rare company, comparable to the best single-season hitting performances in recent history.
Raleigh’s breakout season
That doesn’t mean Raleigh’s year should be overlooked. Few catchers in the modern game have managed both heavy offensive production and full-time duty behind the plate. As ESPN’s Jeff Passan pointed out earlier this month, Raleigh has become the kind of catcher who can carry a team on both offense and defense.
For the Mariners, his power has been the centerpiece of their playoff push. For the league, his 56 homers are a reminder that catchers aren’t just defensive specialists anymore.
MVP outcome feels inevitable
Still, Ausmus’ point rings true. Raleigh might have been a lock for MVP in almost any other season, but Judge’s balance of power, consistency, and on-base ability is shaping up to be historic. Unless voters throw a curveball, the Yankees captain seems headed for his third MVP award.
That doesn’t take away from Raleigh’s year-it just shows how hard it is to shine when Aaron Judge is at his peak.
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