The list of players in the history of Major League Baseball to launch 55 or more home runs in multiple seasons consists of Babe Ruth, Ken Griffey Jr., Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge.
No player since Barry Bonds in 2002 has posted a higher single-season WAR than Judge's 10.8 in 2024, according to Baseball Reference, and the Yankees slugger set career-highs in hits, doubles, walks, RBI, BA, OBP, SLG, and total bases on his way to a second AL MVP award in three years.
Judge enters 2025 as the favorite to capture yet another MVP despite some serious competition in tow. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. finished runner-up in voting last season and is the projected top challenger to Judge.
Witt is coming off back-to-back 30-30 seasons, only the third player to accomplish that feat since 2000 (Ryan Braun & Alfonso Soriano). He improved defensively, posting 1.2 dWAR and winning the Gold Glove at shortstop, and played nearly every day to boost the Royals to their first postseason berth since 2015.
Astros' outfielder Yordan Alvarez and Orioles' shortstop Gunnar Henderson closely follow the top duo on odds lists after All-Star campaigns in 2024. Both players set new career-best marks in multiple categories, including games played, which is notable for Alvarez, who has battled injuries throughout his career.
Henderson flirted with a 50-homer pace before a lackluster second half of the season and still finished fourth in MVP voting last year. Houston and Baltimore are both expected to play deep into the season, and a significant part of their success relies on their stud bats.
Cleveland third baseman José Ramírez also put up historic numbers last year, becoming the sixth player to belt at least 39 home runs while swiping 41 bases or more in a season.
The Guardians rode their star player to the ALCS before the Yankees ended their hopes of a first World Series. Ramírez has five top-five MVP finishes over the last eight seasons and will be a factor again.
Beyond the reefs of the expected favorites for the AL MVP this year, several players are lurking. Toronto's first baseman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., had his best season since 2021, en route to a six-place MVP finish and a Silver Slugger award.
Mariners' outfielder Julio Rodriguez underperformed after lofty preseason expectations and is a notoriously slow starter who just never got going in 2024 but could return to form this year.
Deeper on the board, Adley Rutschman is a player we expect to outperform his 2024 numbers by a good margin. The Baltimore catcher was on pace to eclipse 20 doubles, 30 home runs, and 100 RBI before being hit by a pitch in June and never finding his rhythm again.
Fewer than 20 catchers in baseball history have achieved those numbers, and Rutschman is in a loaded lineup and friendly ballpark situation to achieve his full potential in 2025.
Gunnar Henderson +750
José Ramírez +1500
Adley Rutschman +5500
We'll lay wagers on three of the players we highlighted above to win this year's American League MVP, led by Henderson and Ramírez. Both players combined missed just five games last year and will have a chance at lofty totals in the important categories if they prove to be durable again this year.
We realize that having two Orioles in these picks is risky when they aren't even projected to win their division. Still, if Baltimore does have a better season than expected, it will likely be thanks to Henderson and Rutschman. Catchers who can rake are always popular with the voters as well.