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Predictions for MLB’s MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year winners | Kevin’s take

By Kevin Henry Special to The Denver Gazette July 17, 2025 | updated 2 weeks ago

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Rockies Dodgers Baseball

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run as Colorado Rockies starting pitcher German Marquez, left, watches along with catcher Braxton Fulford during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Mark J. Terrill

With the first half of the MLB season and All-Star Game in the rearview mirror, the race for postseason positioning officially is on.

While the Rockies have no possibility of a postseason berth, the other teams in the National League West have at least a chance to play meaningful October baseball. Playing in a very competitive division is one of the many reasons why the Rockies are barreling toward a potentially historic loss total.

The face of the National League West and Major League Baseball as a whole is Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers. His continued ramp-up after Tommy John surgery toward multiple innings on an MLB mound will be one of the most fascinating storylines of the season’s second half.

Ohtani was clearly the NL’s Most Valuable Player in the first half of the season, but will he win another MVP award at the end of the campaign? Here are my thoughts on that, as well as the midseason award winners in the National and American Leagues and if each of them will hold those honors when the 2025 season is over.

National League MVP

Midseason: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

End of season: Ohtani

Ohtani’s 32 home runs lead the NL, as does his .988 OPS. For all of the injuries and slow starts the Dodgers have had this season, Ohtani has been a constant for manager Dave Roberts. Now toss in the potential of him being one of the team’s most important pitcher as well as hitter and Ohtani defines the word “valuable.”

National League Cy Young Award

Midseason: Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh

End of season: Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia

Skenes has become must-watch television every time he takes the mound and has been impressive with an MLB-leading ERA+ of 212 and ERA of 2.01 and NL-leading 2.40 FIP.

Wheeler, however, isn’t far behind with a 2.36 ERA thanks in part to an NL-leading 154 strikeouts. The 35-year-old right-hander has never won a Cy Young Award, and a strong finish by the Phillies will help him get the edge over Skenes and a Pirates team that is destined to watch the postseason from the couch.

National League Rookie of the Year

Midseason: Drake Baldwin, Atlanta

End of season: Jacob Misiorowski, Milwaukee

Baldwin did great work behind the plate while Braves catcher Sean Murphy missed time early in the season with a fractured rib. However, Murphy is now back and some of the heavy lift that Baldwin had to do in Atlanta has been eased.

That has opened the door for Misiorowski, who was named to the NL All-Star squad after making just five starts for the Brewers. With 33 strikeouts in 25.2 innings and pitches well over 100 mph, Misiorowski has been gaining attention and that will translate into an award.

National League Manager of the Year

Midseason: Bob Melvin, San Francisco

End of season: Craig Counsell, Chicago Cubs

The Giants have been one of MLB’s surprise stories, with San Francisco posting a 52-45 mark and lurking just outside the last Wild Card spot. Predicted by many to finish under .500, the Giants under Melvin are in the hunt as the second half begins.

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But will the Giants stay in the hunt? I believe they will fall off, opening the door for Counsell to win his first Manager of the Year honor as the Cubs make the postseason. He’s finished second four other times; could this be the year Counsell wins the award?

American League MVP

Midseason: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

End of season: Judge

All should indeed rise as Judge continues to dominate MLB hitters in numerous categories, including batting average (.355), OPS (1.194), OPS+ (228) and several other areas. In his age-33 season, Judge is at the pinnacle of his career, leading the Yankees to the AL pennant last season. Can he finally win the World Series in 2025?

Seattle’s Cal Raleigh has been a great first-half story, leading MLB in home runs (38) and RBI (82), but Judge is simply outperforming him in many other categories.

American League Cy Young Award

Midseason: Tarik Skubal, Detroit

End of season: Skubal

Skubal walked away with the award last season after going 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA. This season, the 28-year-old southpaw already has 10 wins and has a lower ERA (2.23) through his first 19 starts. His 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings is the best in baseball.

If something were to happen to Skubal in the second half, keep an eye on Jacob deGrom of the Texas Rangers. Finally healthy, the 37-year-old right-hander is performing at an elite level (9-2, 2.32 ERA) and is a darkhorse in the race.

American League Rookie of the Year

Midseason: Jacob Wilson, Athletics

End of season: Wilson

Drafted sixth overall in the 2023 MLB draft (three spots ahead of Colorado starting pitcher Chase Dollander), Wilson has been tremendous for the Athletics at a premium position (shortstop).

He already earned a starting nod in the All-Star Game thanks to a slash line of .332/.375/.462 and OPS+ of 132. Could he be the franchise’s first Rookie of the Year since Andrew Bailey in 2009? If he keeps up his current pace, absolutely.

American League Manager of the Year

Midseason: A.J. Hinch, Detroit

End of season: Hinch

The Tigers have become a force in the AL and will likely get even stronger at the trade deadline. Rumors have the Tigers looking for a third baseman, so could Ryan McMahon find his way to the Motor City?

Hinch finished third in last year’s AL Manager of the Year voting, becoming the first Detroit manager to receive a first-place vote since Hall of Famer Jim Leyland in 2012. Leyland, by the way, was the last Detroit skipper to win Manager of the Year honors back in 2006. That streak should end this year with Hinch, who in 12 MLB seasons has never won the award.

(Contact Gazette sports columnist Paul Klee at paul.klee@gazette.com or on Twitter at @bypaulklee.)

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