Jacob deGrom, Ronald Acuna Jr. Win MLB Comeback Player Awards

Jacob deGrom, the star pitcher for the Texas Rangers, earned the American League Comeback Player of the Year award during the MLB awards show held in Las Vegas. deGrom, 37, had previously won two Cy Young Awards, a Rookie of the Year title, and an ERA championship. This new accolade adds to his impressive list of achievements.

deGrom missed most of the 2023 and 2024 seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He made three brief starts for Texas in September 2024, before returning fully in 2025. This season, he posted a 12-8 record with a 2.97 ERA in 30 starts, striking out 185 batters while walking only 37 in 172 2/3 innings. His performance also earned him a fifth career All-Star selection.

Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year. Acuna, 27, missed most of the 2024 season due to a torn left anterior cruciate ligament but returned almost exactly one year later. He hit .290 with 21 home runs and 42 RBIs in 95 games during the 2025 season. Acuna follows teammate Chris Sale as the second consecutive Braves player to win this award.

Shohei Ohtani, recently honored as the National League’s Most Valuable Player, also captured the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award for the fifth straight year. The Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star batted .282 with 55 home runs and 102 RBIs, leading the league in total bases (380), slugging percentage (.622), and OPS (1.014). Ohtani also won the Hank Aaron Award as the best offensive player in the NL, marking his third consecutive win for the award.

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge claimed the AL Hank Aaron Award. Judge led MLB with a .331 batting average, 53 home runs, and 114 RBIs. He also topped the league in on-base percentage (.457), slugging (.688), and OPS (1.144). This marks Judge’s third win of the prestigious award.

Milwaukee Brewers’ general manager Matt Arnold became the first two-time winner of the Executive of the Year Award, following a season in which the Brewers finished with the best record in MLB at 97-65. Boston Red Sox reliever Aroldis Chapman won the Mariano Rivera Award as the AL’s top reliever with 32 saves, a 5-3 record, and a 1.17 ERA. Edwin Diaz of the New York Mets earned the Trevor Hoffman Award as the NL’s best reliever, recording 28 saves, a 6-3 record, and a 1.63 ERA.

The 2025 All-MLB First Team featured stars like Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Jose Ramirez. The Second Team included top performers such as Cody Bellinger, Kyle Schwarber, and Edwin Diaz. The Seattle Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies led selections with four players each, reflecting their strong seasons and standout performances.