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One of the hottest races in MLB this season is not between teams fighting for a playoff spot but between Aaron Judge and Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh for the AL MVP award.

Both players have had masterful seasons, but the Yankees’ win over the Orioles on Friday showed why Judge could win his second consecutive MVP award. The slugger went 1-for-3 with a walk, but his go-ahead two-run shot led to the Yankees’ 8-4 win over the Orioles on Friday night. It was a pivotal moment for New York, which is trying to catch the Blue Jays for the AL East crown, after starter Will Warren gave up the team’s early lead, Judge gave the lead right back.

Judge’s night puts his batting average at an AL-high .330, and he is en route to winning his first batting title. Yankees manager Aaron Boone was asked after Friday’s win if the feat would surprise him. But in the midst of answering, the longtime skipper made a proclamation about the AL MVP race.

“Nothing Aaron Judge does surprises me; to me, he’s the clear-cut MVP,” Boone said. “Batting title, feel like he’s been on base seven times a day the last week. Whether they don’t pitch to him, pitch to him, hitting it out of the ballpark. Made a really good play in right field to open the game, you see his athleticism out there. I don’t put anything past 99. He’s playing like an all-time great.”

While Judge’s overall season numbers are extraordinary, he’s doing it down the stretch as the team gets ready for a postseason run. He’s hitting .374/.543/.802 (34-for-91) with 33 runs, three doubles, 12 home runs (eight in his last 15 games), 18 RBI, 33 walks (seven intentional) and four stolen bases over his last 28 games.

Overall, Judge has reached base safely in 134 of his 150 games this year, while batting .330/.458/.687 with 135 runs, 30 doubles, two triples, 52 home runs, 111 RBI, 124 walks (36 intentional, a new AL record) and 12 stolen bases.

In comparison, Raleigh has set records for what a catcher can accomplish as a hitter. His 60 home runs are a record for catchers and switch-hitters and are threatening Judge’s AL home run record (62). He’s also leading a Mariners pitching staff that is one of the best in the league, while captaining the AL West champs.

All while playing good defense and staying available for his team.

Perhaps, the race will come down to the final two games as the Yankees and Mariners fight for seeding and positioning, and Raleigh and Judge look to pad their stats before the writers make their decision.

The MVP award will be announced sometime in October.

“Nothing Aaron Judge does surprises me, to me he’s the clear-cut MVP”
– Aaron Boone pic.twitter.com/HPcWrJMJgM

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) September 27, 2025

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New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised right fielder Aaron Judge as the “clear-cut MVP” of the American League after the slugger hit his 52nd home run of the year to lead the Bronx Bombers to an 8-4 home win over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday evening.

Judge is in a race for the AL MVP with Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who has smacked an MLB-high 60 home runs, an all-time record for a catcher.

Obviously, Boone wants to back his player in Judge, who is hitting .447 in his last 15 games with eight home runs and 13 RBI. He’s been an invaluable member of a Yankees team that went through a serious midseason swoon but bounced back from that slump to contend for the East title and the AL’s top record.

After Friday’s win, Judge is hitting .330 (1.114 OPS) with 52 home runs and 111 RBI. He’s also scored 135 runs. His run total leads the American League, and his batting average and OPS pace the entire major leagues. Judge is the superstar of a Yankee team that’s won 92 games and is tied for first in the American League East with the Toronto Blue Jays. New York is headed to the playoffs at this point, with the only drama being whether or not the Yankees are able to steal the division before the season ends by Monday.

Raleigh also has a great case, though. He has done something no other catcher has done before, and that’s hit 50 or more home runs in a single season. The previous record was set by Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez, who hit 48 homers in 2021. Of course, Raleigh has beaten that mark by 12 homers (and potentially counting). In fact, he’s only two short of Judge’s American League home run record of 62, set in 2022.

Meanwhile, the 90-win Mariners have rolled to the American League West title and will be a top-two seed in the AL playoffs. Raleigh, of course, has played a major part in that endeavor as Seattle searches for its first-ever World Series appearance and title.

This is a tight race to say the least, and we’ll find out who wins the MVP in November. Until then, both Judge’s Yankees and Raleigh’s Mariners are fighting for a World Series championship. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the two AL MVP candidates even meet in the playoffs, perhaps in the American League Championship Series with a pennant on the line.

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