Opening Day is on the way in which, and it’s time to try who MLB’s statistical standouts will likely be in 2025.
We polled 59 MLB.com consultants for his or her picks on who will lead the American League and Nationwide League in six key classes: homers, batting common, stolen bases, ERA, strikeouts and saves. Listed here are the outcomes.
AL: Bobby Witt Jr., RoyalsWitt led the AL (and the Majors) in batting common in 2024 with a .332 mark, and our voters assume he’s due for a repeat efficiency. A majority of the votes for the 2025 AL batting chief went to Witt, who delivered a particular all-around season for Kansas Metropolis and appears poised for extra in his age-25 marketing campaign.
Runner-up: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue JaysGuerrero delivered a career-high .323 common in his 2024 resurgence, posting an offensive season on par along with his 48-homer 2021. Set to be a free agent at season’s finish until he and the Blue Jays can agree on a contract extension, Guerrero actually has the expertise to problem for the AL batting crown.
Others receiving votes: Yordan Alvarez, Steven Kwan, Bo Bichette, Gunnar Henderson, Aaron Choose, Jacob Wilson
NL: Luis Arraez, PadresIf it ain’t broke, don’t repair it. That appears to be our voters’ mentality with Arraez, who acquired a majority of votes to steer the NL in batting in 2025. Arraez hit an AL-leading .316 with the Twins in 2022, an MLB-best .354 for the Marlins in 2023 and .314 between Miami and San Diego in 2024 to high the NL ranks. There appears to be little purpose to not anticipate Arraez to contend for the batting title as soon as once more.
Runner-up: Juan Soto, MetsSoto’s .288 batting common in 2024 was actually an enchancment on his 2022 (.242) and 2023 (.275) campaigns. The famous person outfielder has hit in addition to .351 within the shortened 2020 season, which gained him the NL batting title for the Nationals. Again within the Senior Circuit after signing a megadeal with the Mets, Soto is seen by our voters as a robust contender right here.
Others receiving votes: Shohei Ohtani, Trea Turner, Jackson Merrill, Corbin Carroll, Xavier Edwards, Freddie Freeman, Michael Harris II, Jung Hoo Lee, Ketel Marte, Fernando Tatis Jr.
AL: Aaron Choose, YankeesJudge’s prodigious energy potential made him the overwhelming favourite to repeat as AL dwelling run champion, a title he held in 2017, 2022 and 2024 (main the Majors within the latter two seasons). The Yankees slugger has averaged 49 homers from 2021-24, and as final season’s 58-homer efficiency confirmed, he’s very a lot able to conserving it up as he enters his age-33 marketing campaign.
Runner-up: Brent Rooker, AthleticsRooker broke out with a 30-homer marketing campaign in 2023, and he was even higher the next yr. The 2017 first-round Draft choose slashed .293/.365/.562 with 39 homers, tied for fourth most within the AL. If his energy continues to progress, main the league in lengthy balls — sure, even with Choose within the combine — is totally doable.
Others receiving votes: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Yordan Alvarez, Gunnar Henderson, Jake Burger, Rafael Devers, José Ramírez
NL: Shohei Ohtani, DodgersOhtani led the AL in homers in 2023 and led the NL in 2024 in his historic 50-50 marketing campaign. Can he stick with it? Making ready for an eventual return to the mound and rehabbing from a number of surgical procedures may very well be impediments to Ohtani’s probabilities of one other dwelling run crown, however he’s been an elite energy hitter whereas battling accidents and whereas within the midst of two-way stardom earlier than, and there’s no purpose to assume he can’t do it once more in 2025.
Runner-up: Kyle Schwarber, PhilliesSchwarber hasn’t hit fewer than 30 homers in a full season since 2018, and he slugged 46 and 47, respectively, in 2022 and 2023. That 2022 mark led the NL, and it’s straightforward to see Schwarber doing so once more if he can attain that stage of energy in 2025.
Others receiving votes: Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Bryce Harper, Matt Olson, Marcell Ozuna
AL: Bobby Witt Jr., RoyalsNot solely do our voters assume Witt is poised to steer the AL in batting common, however they’ve him slated to indicate off his wheels, too. Though seven AL gamers stole extra bases than Witt’s 31 in 2024, the Royals shortstop was caught 12 instances and plans to enhance his basestealing proportion in 2025. If he can do this, it’s not laborious to think about him pacing the AL in steals.
Runner-up: Jarren Duran, Purple SoxDuran swiped 34 bases throughout his standout 2024 along with his MLB-leading 48 doubles and 14 triples. One of many quickest gamers within the Majors, the Boston outfielder wasn’t far behind Witt and was simply forward of Jazz Chisholm Jr. in our ballot.
Others receiving votes: Jazz Chisholm Jr., José Ramírez, José Caballero, Victor Robles, Chandler Simpson, Maikel Garcia, Lawrence Butler, Kristian Campbell
NL: Elly De La Cruz, RedsDespite being caught stealing 16 instances (tied for probably the most in MLB), Elly stole a Main League-high 67 bases in 2024, eight greater than the closest challenger (Ohtani). Might much more steals be on the horizon this yr? Our voters undoubtedly appeared to assume so, as De La Cruz was a near-unanimous favourite to steer the NL in swipes in his third Main League season.
Runner-up: Corbin Carroll, D-backsCarroll’s 35 steals in 2024 had been a far cry from De La Cruz’s complete, however the speedy D-backs outfielder has proven he’s able to extra. If Carroll can repeat or construct on his 54-steal complete as a rookie in 2023, he has a robust likelihood to compete for probably the most steals within the NL.
Others receiving votes: Ronald Acuña Jr., Brice Turang, Shohei Ohtani, Victor Scott II
AL: Tarik Skubal, TigersFresh off his AL Triple Crown win in an impressive 2024 season, Skubal was our voters’ alternative to steer the league in ERA for the second straight yr. His 2.39 ERA final season was practically half a run higher than the closest AL qualifier (the Astros’ Ronel Blanco at 2.80), and Skubal has given no purpose to assume he gained’t be simply nearly as good in 2025. In that case, his ERA might simply lead the AL once more — and it may very well be even decrease this time round.
Runner-up: Garrett Crochet, Purple SoxCrochet must enhance on final season’s 3.58 ERA (and pitch extra innings) to deal with one of the best certified starters within the AL. The lefty confirmed loads of flashes of dominance in 2024 earlier than being traded to Boston within the offseason, and the change of surroundings may very well be simply what Crochet must take his sport to a different stage.
Others receiving votes: Logan Gilbert, Cole Ragans, Jacob deGrom, Max Fried, Framber Valdez
NL: Paul Skenes, PiratesSkenes’ debut season just about surpassed all expectations. The primary total Draft choose from 2023 posted a 1.96 ERA in 133 innings of labor in 2024, incomes Rookie of the 12 months honors and ending third in Cy Younger voting. A sub-2 ERA is hardly straightforward to repeat, however Skenes is sweet sufficient to no less than get shut.
Runner-up: Zack Wheeler, PhilliesWheeler has been a constant, reliable ace for years now with the Phillies, however he’s by no means gained a league ERA title. Though 2025 will likely be his age-35 season, Wheeler has proven little signal of slowing down and will have a robust likelihood of ending that streak this yr.
Others receiving votes: Corbin Burnes, Michael King, Blake Snell, Chris Sale, Dylan Stop, Shota Imanaga, Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki, Justin Steele, Yoshinobu Yamamoto
AL: Tarik Skubal, TigersHey, it’s Skubal once more. Effectively, he led all of MLB in Okay’s in 2024 with 228, so his place on this ballot actually is sensible. Along with his projected excessive quantity of innings and his well-above-average strikeout fee, the Detroit lefty was a slim favourite to repeat as AL strikeout king.
Runner-up: Garrett Crochet, Purple SoxCrochet fanned a powerful 209 hitters in simply 146 innings of labor, posting a 35.1% strikeout fee that ranks among the many easiest within the Majors. If he can go deeper into video games and sustain the Okay’s at an analogous fee, it’s straightforward to ascertain 250 or extra strikeouts for Crochet in 2025.
Others receiving votes: Cole Ragans, Logan Gilbert, Jacob deGrom, Framber Valdez
NL: Paul Skenes, PiratesJust like Skubal, Skenes’ identify seems on the high of the record for strikeouts in addition to ERA. Skenes already struck out 33.1% of batters in 2024, and now he’s added new pitches to his arsenal. That’s a scary thought — one which makes it straightforward to foresee significantly greater than 200 Okay’s for Skenes this season.
Runner-up: Dylan Stop, PadresCease has been a remarkably constant supply of strikeouts since his first full season in 2021, fanning between 214 and 227 hitters yearly. Getting into his second yr with the Padres, the right-hander — barring an damage or a commerce to an AL membership — needs to be within the combine for the NL lead in punchouts as soon as once more.
Others receiving votes: Zack Wheeler, Blake Snell, Spencer Strider, Michael King, Chris Sale
AL: Emmanuel Clase, GuardiansThe AL saves chief in 2022? Clase. In 2023? Clase. In 2024? Clase. So maybe it’s no shock {that a} majority of our voters picked Clase to run it again for a fourth straight yr. Clase has been nothing wanting glorious yr in and yr out, particularly in 2024, when he posted an outstanding 0.61 ERA in 74 1/3 innings and saved 47 ballgames. He’s nonetheless pitching within the again finish of the bullpen for a Guardians group with postseason aspirations, so Clase stays as sturdy a choose as any right here.
Runner-up: Mason Miller, AthleticsThe hard-throwing Miller was amongst MLB’s most dominant relievers in 2024, putting out 104 hitters in simply 65 innings and amassing 28 saves. If the improved A’s roster is extra aggressive in 2025, it ought to result in extra alternatives for Miller — and he’ll be able to convert them.
Others receiving votes: Devin Williams, Félix Bautista, Jhoan Duran, Josh Hader, Andrés Muñoz
NL: Edwin Díaz, MetsDíaz had a little bit of an up-and-down 2024 after coming back from a knee damage that price him all of 2023, posting a 3.52 ERA and changing 20 of 27 save alternatives. Our voters anticipate him to enhance on these numbers this season, choosing Díaz to steer the NL in saves on a Mets group that added Soto to the roster in the course of the offseason.
Runner-up: Ryan Helsley, CardinalsMLB’s 2024 saves chief with 49 wasn’t our high choose to steer the NL in saves as soon as once more, however he completed simply behind Díaz in our ballot. After breaking St. Louis’ single-season saves file, the Cardinals nearer remains to be very a lot on the high of his sport getting into 2025.
Others receiving votes: Raisel Iglesias, Robert Suarez, Tanner Scott, Alexis Díaz, Kyle Finnegan, Ryan Pressly, Ryan Walker
