The 2025 American League MVP race was at one point (not too long ago) considered a two-horse race between New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. The combination of Judge’s IL stint — which began in late July — and Raleigh’s historic August — which saw Raleigh break the single-season home run record for a catcher — seemed for the moment to give Raleigh fans a stronger rallying cry for his MVP candidacy.
As the Yankees had difficulty working Judge back into his defensive position, fans and analysts alike pushing for a Raleigh MVP seized the opportunity to double down on the idea that Raleigh’s 2025 season is more impressive than Judge’s because “The Big Dumper” also plays the catcher position.