Cal Raleigh named top MLB player by peers

Oct 29, 2025, 8:54 AM | Updated: 3:46 pm

Seattle Sports

Seattle Mariners star Cal Raleigh’s record-setting season earned him the top recognition from his MLB peers.

The MLB Players Association announced Wednesday that Raleigh was voted as overall Player of the Year and American League Outstanding Player in the 2025 Players Choice Awards.

What will free agent Josh Naylor’s market be?

Raleigh was one of three Player of the Year finalists alongside New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge and Los Angeles Dodgers two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani.

The Players Choice Awards are voted on by active MLB players.

Raleigh is the first Mariner and first catcher to be named Player of the Year since the award was introduced in 1998. He is Seattle’s first player to win AL Outstanding Player since Ichiro Suzuki in 2004. The only other catcher to win the AL award was Minnesota’s Joe Mauer in 2009.

“I do it for my family, myself, and the people here in Seattle.”

Thank you, Cal, for giving all of us an incredible season. As voted by his peers in the 2025 Players Choice Awards, Cal Raleigh is your Player of the Year and AL Outstanding Player!@Mariners | @CBSMornings pic.twitter.com/zL5fXWVMhQ

— MLBPA (@MLBPA) October 29, 2025

Raleigh broke numerous records this season on his way to clubbing 60 home runs and leading the Mariners to their first division title and ALCS appearances in 24 years. The switch-hitting slugger set the MLB single-season marks for the most home runs by a catcher and a switch-hitter, passing Salvador Perez and Mickey Mantle, respectfully. He also passed Ken Griffey Jr.’s single-season Mariners record.

A third-round pick in the 2018 draft, Raleigh batted .247 with a .948 OPS and 161 wRC+ in 159 games in the regular season. He led MLB in home runs and was third with 125 RBIs.

Raleigh hit five more home runs during a strong postseason run in which he batted .304 (14 for 46) with a 1.081 OPS in 12 games. His 65 home runs combined across the regular season and postseason broke Judge’s AL record of 64 set in 2022.

Raleigh was elected to his first All-Star Game in July and won the Home Run Derby, becoming the first Mariner to win the competition since Griffey in 1999.

Raleigh was named the Sporting News MLB Player of the Year last week.

Here’s a look at the other winners announced by MLBPA.

Marvin Miller Man of the Year: Brent Suter, Cincinnati Reds

AL Outstanding Pitcher: Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers

AL Comeback Player: Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers

AL Outstanding Rookie: Nick Kurtz, Athletics

NL Outstanding Player: Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies

NL Outstanding Pitcher: Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates

NL Comeback Player: Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves

NL Outstanding Rookie: Drake Baldwin, Atlanta Braves

Philanthropist of the Year: Austin Nola, Philadelphia Phillies

Curt Flood Award: Scott Sanderson and Don Baylor