Fri Jul 04 17:00:00 UTC 2025: **Just Baseball Staff Reveals Midseason Award Picks: Ohtani and Judge Lead the Pack**

Atlanta, GA – With the MLB season nearing its official halfway point, the staff at Just Baseball has released their midseason award picks, highlighting the standout performers in both the American and National Leagues. These selections reflect who would deserve the awards if the season ended today, considering performances up to July 3rd.

**MVP Races Heat Up:**

In the NL, Shohei Ohtani is the favorite for MVP, leading the league in multiple offensive categories. However, the race is far from over, with players like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Tucker, James Wood, Juan Soto, and Fernando Tatis Jr. all in contention. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Corbin Carroll could also factor in with strong performances.

The AL MVP race is a clash of titans, with Aaron Judge vying for a third MVP title against Cal Raleigh. While Judge is having a historically great season, Raleigh’s stellar offensive and defensive contributions as a catcher have made it a close contest.

**Cy Young Awards: Youth vs. Experience:**

The NL Cy Young race is a tight battle between rookie sensation Paul Skenes and veteran Zack Wheeler. Skenes leads the league in ERA, while Wheeler leads in strikeouts, making for a compelling contrast in styles and resumes.

Tarik Skubal is the frontrunner for the AL Cy Young, earning nearly unanimous support from the Just Baseball staff. Despite strong competition from Hunter Brown, Max Fried, and Jacob deGrom, Skubal’s impressive metrics and “stuff” put him in the lead.

**Rookies Making a Splash:**

Drake Baldwin is the predicted NL Rookie of the Year, standing out with his offensive production and solid defense as a catcher for the Braves.

Jacob Wilson is the favorite for the AL Rookie of the Year, leading AL rookies in multiple offensive categories. Wilson is looking to become the first rookie since Ichiro to win the batting title. Carlos Narvaez, is another exciting contender for the title.

**Manager of the Year: Expectations Exceeded:**

Bob Melvin of the Giants narrowly edges out Craig Counsell for NL Manager of the Year. Despite the Giants not being a top team, Melvin’s performance is recognized due to his exceeding expectations.

A.J. Hinch of the Tigers is the pick for AL Manager of the Year, with his team’s dramatic exceeding of expectations. Hinch has done a great job managing his bullpen.

The Just Baseball staff’s midseason selections provide a snapshot of the current MLB landscape, with several exciting races poised to intensify as the season progresses.

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