Yankees' Aaron Judge wins AL MVP for third time in four years - ESPN

For months, debate has swirled about the American League Most Valuable Player Award.

Would the honor go to New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge for the third time in four years after another extraordinary offensive season, or would it go to Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who smashed his way into the record books with 60 home runs?

The top five vote-getters for the American League Most Valuable Player Award in balloting conducted by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

On Thursday, voters narrowly chose Judge, who continued to cement his place among baseball's all-time greats by becoming the 13th player to win three or more MVPs. He joins Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle as the only Yankees to have accomplished the feat.

The vote from the Baseball Writers' Association of America was one of the closest in years. Judge received 17 of the 30 first-place votes and 13 second-place votes. Raleigh received the other 13 first-place votes while finishing second on the other 17 ballots.

If two writers had switched their votes, it would have been a tie.

Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez finished third, and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was fourth.

Judge, humble as always, was quick to congratulate Raleigh and Ramirez.

«They had two incredible seasons,» Judge told MLB Network. «It's always fun playing against those two, especially when we play Seattle. The main objective is, 'Make sure Cal doesn't beat you.'»

Judge won the award for the first time in 2022, when he cracked an American League-record 62 home runs. After a toe injury derailed his 2023 season, he registered one of the greatest seasons in major league history in 2024 for his second MVP, slashing .322/.458/.701 with