Yankees captain Aaron Judge is still chasing that elusive first championship, but he needs to create some space in his trophy room for yet another piece of esteemed hardware.
Judge’s latest historic season was formally recognized on Thursday, as he received American League MVP honors for a second straight season and the third time in four years.
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While the decision among BBWAA members wasn’t unanimous — like last season’s results — Judge earned 17 first-place votes to beat out Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (13 first-place votes) and the Cleveland Guardians’ Jose Ramirez.
“Aaron has been playing in rarified air for much of his career,” Yankees GM Brian Cashman said in a statement. “His devotion to his craft, his continuous pursuit of excellence, and the importance he places on being a teammate who can be counted on help define his legacy just as much as his three MVP Awards.
“He is a once-in-a-generation player who embodies so much of what is good about our game. Aaron is being celebrated again tonight, and rightfully so. He has blossomed into one of sports’ greatest superstars.”
“I know I say this often when meeting with our media throughout the season, but I don’t ever want to become desensitized by the consistency and the enormity of his accomplishments,” manager Aaron Boone added. “It’s becoming increasingly difficult for me to use words to capture how good he is. He’s just playing at a higher level, and has been for quite some time.
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“It has been an absolute privilege to watch Aaron’s ascension. He’s already fashioned a career that matches up with the all-time greats. I see it every single day – and I think it’s critical to acknowledge the work that Aaron puts in to maintain this inconceivable level of excellence as a player.
“While we are in awe of everything he does between the lines, he is beloved in our clubhouse for how he embraces his role as captain, prioritizing the needs and success of the team above himself. I am thrilled to see Aaron acknowledged again in this way. Congratulations AJ!”
In spite of fervent debate on who deserved the award most, the exceptional heights that Judge reached in 2025 were impossible to dismiss. He became the tallest batting champion in baseball history, posting a laudable .331 average in 152 regular-season games. The 33-year-old slugger also led the majors in WAR (9.7) and OPS (1.144), and ranked second in runs (137), total bases (372), extra-base hits (85), and intentional walks (36).
Judge surprisingly didn’t finish first in home runs — Raleigh impressively hit 60, setting a new single-season record for catchers — but his 53 long balls pushed his career tally to 368, and he became just the third player ever to win the batting title with 50-plus homers (Jimmie Foxx, 1936; Mickey Mantle, 1956). Judge is also the fourth player in history to produce four 50-homer seasons.
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While the Yankees were unable to defend the AL pennant, Judge’s postseason numbers were exemplary. He naturally carried the lineup, slashing a robust .500/.581/.692 with seven RBI across 26 at-bats (seven games).
His lone playoff homer also kept the Yankees’ season alive. Facing elimination to the Blue Jays in Game 3 of the ALDS, he hit a mammoth game-tying shot off the left-field foul pole that sent the Yankee Stadium crowd into a frenzy.
Judge’s knack for clutch hits was once again showcased, as he led MLB in on-base percentage (.513) and OPS (1.154) with runners in scoring position. He reached base multiple times in a career-high 101 games, and three-plus times in a league-best 51 games. Judge didn’t slow down at the plate while the MVP conversations intensified, either — over his final 30 games, he hit a whopping .374 with 13 homers and 21 RBI (99 at-bats).
The signs of Judge authoring a third MVP season were apparent during the spring. He was named AL Player of the Month for March/April and May, and by the middle of July, he made his seventh career All-Star Game appearance. Judge led baseball in OPS by 130 points and slugging by 66 points.
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Judge will enter his age-34 season in 2026 with a chance to write another unique chapter in MLB history — no AL player has ever won three consecutive MVP awards.
The Yankees captain was also named the Hank Aaron award winner and earned All-MLB First Team honors.
Judge wasn’t the only one in pinstripes to receive MVP votes this year, as Cody Bellinger finished 14th in voting after receiving one sixth-place vote, one ninth-place vote and one 10th-place vote.
