Story perspectives

MLB Awards Race Heats Up: Judge, Ohtani, Skenes Shining

9/12/2025

Summary

Story summary

The 2025 MLB Awards race intensifies, featuring Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani as leading MVP candidates.
Ohtani aims for his fourth MVP, excelling in offensive stats and pitching.
Paul Skenes of the Pirates holds a 1.98 ERA, vying for the NL Cy Young, the first for the team since 1990.
Tarik Skubal leads the AL in ERA and WHIP, targeting another unanimous Cy Young.
Rookie Nick Kurtz dominates the AL Rookie of the Year race with strong offensive performance.

History

Historical Context

The Pittsburgh Pirates last won a Cy Young Award in 1990, when Doug Drabek received the honor. Since then, the team has faced challenges, with limited postseason success. As of 2024, pitcher Paul Skenes, boasting a 1.98 ERA, symbolizes the Pirates' potential resurgence amid a competitive MLB landscape featuring stars like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani.

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Story summary

The 2025 MLB Awards race intensifies, featuring Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani as leading MVP candidates.
Ohtani aims for his fourth MVP, excelling in offensive stats and pitching.
Paul Skenes of the Pirates holds a 1.98 ERA, vying for the NL Cy Young, the first for the team since 1990.
Tarik Skubal leads the AL in ERA and WHIP, targeting another unanimous Cy Young.
Rookie Nick Kurtz dominates the AL Rookie of the Year race with strong offensive performance.

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