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With the 2025 MLB season kicking off this week, it’s never too early to make some prognostications.
Let’s jump into it.
AL Rookie of the Year: Kristian Campbell (Boston Red Sox)
Campbell got word he will be the team’s starting second baseman on Opening Day. The uber-talented athlete had been ranked inside MLB’s top-10 prospects list to begin this year. He’s a legit threat to hit 20 HRs and steal 20 bags this year. Boston’s lineup is deep enough to keep him protected, and those at Fenway will be treated to a very athletic player with sky-high upside.
NL Rookie of the Year: Roki Sasaki (Los Angeles Dodgers)
One would be tough-pressed to not have Sasaki here. The flamethrower out of Japan is the top prospect in the sport — and we’ve seen enough to feel as if he can be dominant from the jump. Control is a bit of an issue. He’ll have to throw his nasty splitter for strikes. Sasaki is also in the midst of developing a third pitch (slider). Having said that, he hit 100 MPH with ease in one of the Tokyo games versus the Cubs. As he gets more and more comfortable, Sasaki should blossom. It also helps that he’s pitching behind the most talented team in the game.
AL Manager of the Year: Alex Cora (Boston Red Sox)
Based on the offseason, everything is setting up for Cora and the Red Sox to have a massive season. The Yankees are dealing with free agent losses and a number of severe injuries to its core group. The American League as a whole seems very down compared to the National League. With the acquisitions of Alex Bregman and Garrett Crochet, why can’t Boston be the class of the league? This could be the most talented team top-to-bottom, and it may be even better in the future should Boston bring up a handful of its elite prospects (or trade them for more proven talent). Either way, Cora is a fantastic manager and should benefit from the situation he finds the Red Sox in.
NL Manager of the Year: Tito Francona (Cincinnati Reds)
Tito is a trendy pick given his track record and the upside Cincinnati has. Coming on to be the Reds’ manager, he’s entering a position where the NL Central is essentially wide-open. Cincinnati has some real talent across the board. The pitching staff led by Hunter Greene should be improved, and Elly de la Cruz’s continued development could take the Reds to another record. The team will benefit heavily from Francona’s experience as one of the most well-respected teachers of the game in the sport.
AL Cy Young: Tarik Skubal (Detroit Tigers)
Skubal is slated to be a free agent in what could be his final hurrah in the Motor City. He’s going to cash in massively — and what better way to go out than to win another Cy Young Award before hitting the open market? Detroit will likely do everything it can to keep the Arizona native in the fold. Skubal is in his prime and has as good of a repertoire as any pitcher in the game today.
NL Cy Young: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Los Angeles Dodgers)
This is somewhat of a dark horse pick. Zack Wheeler, Corbin Burnes, and Blake Snell are all considered to be heavy favorites. Greene is another who could have a fantastic year. Having said that, it’s Yamamoto’s time to emerge as the potential ace of a loaded Dodgers’ staff. Run support should be no issue here. Yamamoto has acclimated to life in the U.S., and he should be all the better for it. In his first start versus the Cubs, his fastball was touching 98 MPH. He’ll take the momentum from helping the Dodgers win the World Series, and will parlay that into a truly monster campaign for the Boys in Blue.
AL MVP: Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas City Royals)
Witt Jr.’s time is now. Aaron Judge likely will be his biggest competition. Having said that, there’s a reality in which the Yankees play the majority of the year without Giancarlo Stanton. With Stanton potentially out for the year and Juan Soto in Queens, Judge will have virtually zero protection in the lineup. Teams will pitch around him to get to someone else — and that could severely impact his stats. Witt Jr. is a star — and easily one of the biggest talents in the sport. He’ll also benefit from beating up on a somewhat mediocre AL Central.
NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Ohtani won the MVP last year in a historic season where he became the first 50-50 member in MLB history. While he might lessen the desire to steal bags, hitting 50 HRs again is very much in play. On top of that, he’ll be taking the mound as one of the more dominant starting pitchers in the game. Assuming he operates in the way Ohtani is accustomed to doing, how can he not win the MVP for a second straight season? There’s no one — potentially ever — that hits and pitches at a Hall of Fame level.
