MLB MVP Award: Winners, odds, trophy, when is it awarded?

All you need to know about MLB's MVP Award, including past winners, when the award is announced, and more.

Jump ahead here:

• American League MVP odds
• National League MVP odds
• Past winners

American League MVP odds

Aaron Judge	-340
Bobby Witt Jr.	+700
Gunnar Henderson	+2500
Mike Trout	+2800
Corey Seager	+3500
Jose Ramirez	+4000

Reigning AL MVP and New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (-340) has already separated himself as the heavy AL MVP favorite. Judge led MLB in home runs (58), RBI (144), walks (133) and OPS (1.159) in the 2024 season.

Through 22 games in the 2025 season, Judge is hitting .390/.495/.707 — all lead the AL and his average and on-base percentage lead MLB — with seven home runs, 25 RBI, 32 hits, 21 runs, a 245 OPS+, and 1.7 WAR. He leads MLB in hits and RBI, and he leads the AL in runs and WAR.

Second in the AL MVP odds is Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (+700). Witt developed into a superstar last season, more than doubling his 2023 WAR rating of 4.4 to a 2024 rating of 9.4.

Through 23 games this season, Witt has 1.1 WAR and is hitting .307/.370/.477 with two home runs, nine RBI, six stolen bases, nine walks, 27 hits, 15 runs, and a 142 OPS+. He's the only Royals player with an OPS above .800, and he's one of two everyday Royals players with an OPS above .700.

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (+2500) is third in the market, and he's coming off his age-23 season in which he posted 9.1 WAR. This season, Henderson is hitting .228/.267/.439 in 14 games played, and he has 13 hits, seven extra base hits, two home runs, three RBI, two stolen bases and nine runs scored while dealing with a muscle strain that saw him miss a handful of games.

Los Angeles Angels rightfielder and three-time AL MVP Mike Trout (+2800) is next in the odds. He has just 0.2 WAR through 21 games and is slashing .184/.289/.513, but he has eight home runs, 16 RBI, 11 walks, 12 runs scored and 14 hits. He leads his team in RBI, walks, and home runs.

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (+3500) is a rather distant fifth in the betting. He has 1.1 WAR and is slashing .288/.350/.479 through 20 games, and he has 21 hits, six extra base hits, four home runs, six RBI, and seven walks. He has only committed one error in 65 defensive chances and 160.0 innings at shortstop so far.

Further back, from 40/1 to 60/1, are Cleveland Guardians 3B Jose Ramirez, Toronto Blue Jays 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Seattle Mariners OF Julio Rodriguez, Detroit Tigers 1B Spencer Torkelson, Athletics 1B Tyler Soderstom, and Houston Astros OF/DH Yordan Alvarez.

National League MVP odds

Shohei Ohtani	+210
Corbin Carroll	+500
Fernando Tatis Jr.	+500
Kyle Tucker	+500
Pete Alonso	+1100
Elly De La Cruz	+1800
Juan Soto	+1800
Mookie Betts	+2000

Los Angeles Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani (+210) has remained the favorite to win NL MVP, despite not yet taking the mound after not pitching in his MVP-winning 2024 season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.

Through 21 games in 2025, Ohtani is hitting .277/.375/.530 with 0.8 WAR, six home runs, eight RBI, five stolen bases, 13 walks, 23 hits and 21 runs. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said in late April that Ohtani is still a "copule months away" from pitching.

Three players are tied for second at +500 in the NL MVP market: Arizona Diamondbacks OF Corbin Carroll, San Diego Padres OF Fernando Tatis Jr., and Chicago Cubs OF Kyle Tucker.

Carroll, the 2023 Rookie of the Year, seems to have recovered from his sophomore slump from last season. He's hitting .323/.394/.645 through 22 games with 1.4 WAR, and he has seven home runs, 19 RBI, four stolen bases, seven doubles, one triple, and 19 runs scored.

Tatis Jr. leads MLB with 2.1 WAR through 21 games, and he's hitting .358/.436/.691 with an NL-best eight home runs, 16 RBI, seven steals, 29 hits, 22 runs scored, and a 12-12 walk-to-strikeout ratio.

Tucker, who the Cubs traded for in the offseason, has gotten off to a great start at his new home. He has 1.1 WAR through 24 games, is hitting .302/.404/.615, and has six home runs, 23 RBI, eight doubles, two triples, 29 hits, 22 runs scored, and a 17-14 walk-to-strikeout ratio.

New York Mets 1B Pete Alonso (+1100) is next in the betting. He has overshadowed teammate Juan Soto, who signed a record-setting deal in the offseason MLB in slugging percentage (.718) and leads the NL in OPS (1.171), and he also has six home runs, an NL-best 24 RBI, nine doubles, one triple, 27 hits, 13 runs scored, and a 14-12 walk-to-strikeout ratio.

Further back, from 18/1 to 35/1, are Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz, Mets OF Juan Soto, Dodgers SS Mookie Betts, Atlanta Braves 1B Austin Riley, Philadelphia Phillies 1B Bryce Harper, Mets SS Francisco Lindor, and Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber.

MLB MVP Award past winners

Year	American League winner	National League winner
2024	Aaron Judge	Shohei Ohtani
2023	Shohei Ohtani	Ronald Acuna Jr.
2022	Aaron Judge	Paul Goldschmidt
2021	Shohei Ohtani	Bryce Harper
2020	Jose Abreu	Freddie Freeman
2019	Mike Trout	Cody Bellinger
2018	Mookie Betts	Christian Yelich
2017	Jose Altuve	Giancarlo Stanton
2016	Mike Trout	Kris Bryant
2015	Josh Donaldson	Bryce Harper
2014	Mike Trout	Clayton Kershaw
2013	Miguel Cabrera	Andrew McCutchen
2012	Miguel Cabrera	Buster Posey
2011	Justin Verlander	Ryan Braun
2010	Josh Hamilton	Joey Votto
2009	Joe Mauer	Albert Pujols
2008	Dustin Pedroia	Albert Pujols
2007	Alex Rodriguez	Jimmy Rollins
2006	Justin Morneau	Ryan Howard
2005	Alex Rodriguez	Albert Pujols
2004	Vladimir Guerrero	Barry Bonds
2003	Alex Rodriguez	Barry Bonds
2002	Miguel Tejada	Barry Bonds
2001	Ichiro Suzuki	Barry Bonds
2000	Jason Giambi	Jeff Kent
1999	Ivan Rodriguez	Chipper Jones
1998	Juan Gonzalez	Sammy Sosa
1997	Ken Griffey Jr.	Larry Walker
1996	Juan Gonzalez	Ken Caminiti
1995	Mo Vaughn	Barry Larkin
1994	Frank Thomas	Jeff Bagwell
1993	Frank Thomas	Barry Bonds
1992	Dennis Eckersley	Barry Bonds
1991	Cal Ripken Jr.	Terry Pendleton
1990	Rickey Henderson	Barry Bonds
1989	Robin Yount	Kevin Mitchell
1988	Jose Canseco	Kirk Gibson
1987	George Bell	Andre Dawson
1986	Roger Clemens	Mike Schmidt
1985	Don Mattingly	Willie McGee
1984	Willie Hernandez	Ryne Sandberg
1983	Cal Ripken Jr.	Dale Murphy
1982	Robin Yount	Dale Murphy
1981	Rollie Fingers	Mike Schmidt
1980	George Brett	Mike Schmidt
1979	Don Baylor	Keith Hernandez & Willie Stargell
1978	Jim Rice	Dave Parker
1977	Rod Carew	George Foster
1976	Thurman Munson	Joe Morgan
1975	Fred Lynn	Joe Morgan
1974	Jeff Burroughs	Steve Garvey
1973	Reggie Jackson	Pete Rose
1972	Dick Allen	Johnny Bench
1971	Vida Blue	Joe Torre
1970	Boog Powell	Johnny Bench
1969	Harmon Killebrew	Willie McCovey
1968	Denny McLain	Bob Gibson
1967	Carl Yastrzemski	Orlando Cepeda
1966	Frank Robinson	Roberto Clemente
1965	Zoilo Versalles	Willie Mays
1964	Brooks Robinson	Ken Boyer
1963	Elston Howard	Sandy Koufax
1962	Mickey Mantle	Maury Wills
1961	Roger Maris	Frank Robinson
1960	Roger Maris	Dick Groat
1959	Nellie Fox	Ernie Banks
1958	Jackie Jensen	Ernie Banks
1957	Mickey Mantle	Hank Aaron
1956	Mickey Mantle	Don Newcombe
1955	Yogi Berra	Roy Campanella
1954	Yogi Berra	Willie Mays
1953	Al Rosen	Roy Campanella
1952	Bobby Shantz	Hank Sauer
1951	Yogi Berra	Roy Campanella
1950	Phil Rizzuto	Jim Konstanty
1949	Ted Williams	Jackie Robinson
1948	Lou Boudreau	Stan Musial
1947	Joe DiMaggio	Bob Elliott
1946	Ted Williams	Stan Musial
1945	Hal Newhouser	Phil Cavarretta
1944	Hal Newhouser	Marty Marion
1943	Spud Chandler	Stan Musial
1942	Joe Gordon	Mort Cooper
1941	Joe DiMaggio	Dolph Camilli
1940	Hank Greenberg	Frank McCormick
1939	Joe DiMaggio	Bucky Walters
1938	Jimmie Foxx	Ernie Lombardi
1937	Charlie Gehringer	Joe Medwick
1936	Lou Gehrig	Carl Hubbell
1935	Hank Greenberg	Gabby Hartnett
1934	Mickey Cochrane	Dizzy Dean
1933	Jimmie Foxx	Carl Hubbell
1932	Jimmie Foxx	Chuck Klein
1931	Lefty Grove	Frankie Frisch

When are MLB MVP Awards announced?

The MVP Award winners are announced around two weeks after the World Series concludes as part of MLB's awards season. In 2023. the winners were announced on Nov. 16.

Who votes on the MLB MVP Award?

The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) votes on the winners of the MVP Award. Two writers in each MLB city get to vote, and votes must be submitted before the postseason begins. Voters get first- through 10th-place votes worth 14 points for first place, nine for second, eight for third, seven for fourth, six for fifth, five for sixth, fourth for seventh, three for eighth, two for ninth and one for 10th. The player with the most points, regardless of the number of first-place votes, wins the award.

MLB MVP Award trophy

Winners of the MVP Award receive a plaque with a black background and a gold baseball diamond with the winner's name and team in a gold rectangle within the baseball diamond. The league they won the award in - either the American League or National League - is across the top of the plaque, while "Most Valuable Player" is across the bottom of the plaque.

Odds mentioned in this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.