If you had "Seattle Mariners catcher" on your bingo card for the 2025 home run crown, you're either a liar or a genius. Honestly. Baseball has a way of making us look stupid, and this season was the ultimate proof. While everyone spent the spring talking about whether Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani would hit 70, a guy nicknamed "Big Dumper" went out and cleared the fences 60 times.
Cal Raleigh is your MLB home run leader this season. Let that sink in for a second.
A catcher hitting 60 home runs isn't just a "good season." It's historic. It’s the kind of statistical anomaly that makes you check the back of the baseball card three times. He didn't just lead the league; he rewrote what the position is capable of.
The 60-Homer Shock: Cal Raleigh’s Historic Tear
Most people expected the usual suspects to dominate the 2025 power rankings. Instead, Raleigh became the only member of the 60-home run club this year. He’s now the first catcher—and the first switch-hitter—to ever hit that mark in a single season.
It wasn't a fluke.
If you look at the Statcast data, Raleigh’s "No Doubter" percentage was hovering around 44%. Basically, nearly half of those 60 balls would have been out in all 30 MLB ballparks. He wasn't just taking advantage of short porches; he was punishing the baseball. He finished with an actual home run count of 60, even though his expected home runs (xHR) sat at roughly 56. He outperformed the math.
The craziest part? He was doing this while catching 130+ games. The physical toll of being behind the plate usually saps a player's power by August. Raleigh just got stronger.
The Usual Suspects and the 50-Homer Club
While Raleigh took the top spot, the rest of the mlb home run leaders this season list looks a bit more familiar, though no less impressive.
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Kyle Schwarber finally did it. He joined the 50-homer club for the first time in his career, finishing with 56. You've seen the "Schwarbombs" before, but this year was different. He wasn't just a three-true-outcomes hitter; he was the engine for a Phillies team that locked up the second seed in the National League. He led the league in RBIs too, making him more than just a leadoff power threat.
Then there’s Shohei Ohtani.
What do you even say at this point? He hit 55 home runs. He followed up his legendary 50-50 season with another 50+ homer campaign. And just for fun, he posted a 2.87 ERA over 47 innings on the mound. It’s almost boring how good he is. He led the league in total bases and finished second in OPS. He’s the gold standard, even if he didn't take the home run title this time around.
The Top 5 Power Hitters of 2025
- Cal Raleigh (Mariners): 60 HR
- Kyle Schwarber (Phillies): 56 HR
- Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers): 55 HR
- Aaron Judge (Yankees): 53 HR
- Eugenio Suárez (Mariners): 49 HR
Aaron Judge and the Consistency Machine
Aaron Judge finished with 53 home runs. For most players, that’s a career-defining peak. For Judge, it was just Tuesday. He’s now the fourth player in history to hit 50 home runs in four different seasons.
Think about that.
The list is Judge, Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa. That’s the whole list. He also picked up another batting title and led the league in WAR. Even when he isn't the "leader," he’s usually the best player on the field.
The Youth Movement: Junior Caminero and Nick Kurtz
If you’re looking for the future of the long ball, look at Tampa Bay and Oakland (well, Sacramento for now).
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Junior Caminero lived up to every bit of the hype. The Rays' third baseman blasted 45 home runs in his first full major league season. He didn't just hit for power; he finished top 10 in slugging percentage. He’s 22 years old. That’s terrifying for the rest of the American League East.
Then there’s Nick Kurtz.
The Athletics' rookie was electrifying. He hit 36 home runs in only 117 games. If he had played a full 162, we might be talking about a 50-homer rookie season. He finished with a 1.002 OPS and a 5.4 WAR. He’s the presumptive Rookie of the Year for a reason.
Surprising Shifts and Career Years
Sometimes the home run leaderboard tells a story of reinvention. Juan Soto had a career year in what might be his only season with the Mets. He set a personal best with 43 home runs. But the shocker wasn't the power—it was the speed. Soto swiped 38 bags. He entered the 30-30 club for the first time, proving he’s a much more dynamic athlete than people gave him credit for.
Byron Buxton actually played a full season. Seriously.
For the first time in seven years, Buxton stayed healthy enough to show the world what he can do. He hit 35 home runs and set career highs in almost every category. When he's on the field, he's one of the five most exciting players in baseball.
Notable Mentions in the 30-Homer Tier
- Jo Adell (Angels): 37 HR – Finally had the breakout everyone's been waiting for.
- Riley Greene (Tigers): 36 HR – The heart of the Detroit offense.
- Rafael Devers (Giants): 35 HR – Became the first Giant since Barry Bonds to hit 30 in a season after a mid-season trade from Boston.
- Pete Alonso (Mets): 38 HR – A "down" year by his standards, yet still nearly hit 40.
Why the Ball Was Flying in 2025
You can't talk about mlb home run leaders this season without looking at the environment. Team totals were up across the board. The Yankees led the way with a staggering 274 home runs as a team. The Dodgers (244) and Mariners (238) weren't far behind.
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Is the ball juiced? Maybe. But the exit velocities tell a different story.
Hitters are simply getting better at optimized launch angles. Statcast shows that the average "barrel" percentage increased by nearly 1.5% league-wide this year. Players like Cal Raleigh have mastered the art of the pull-side fly ball. When you combine that with some of the pitcher injuries that plagued the league this year, you get a recipe for a lot of souvenirs in the bleachers.
What Most People Get Wrong About Home Run Races
We tend to focus on the total number, but context matters. For instance, Eugenio Suárez hit 49 home runs playing half his games in Seattle—a notoriously difficult place to hit. If he played in Cincinnati or Philadelphia, he’s likely a 55-homer guy.
Also, look at the catchers.
The fact that Raleigh (60) and Shea Langeliers (31) both had massive years suggests a shift in how catchers are trained. We’re moving away from the "defensive specialist" era and back into an age where catchers are expected to be middle-of-the-order threats.
Actionable Insights for Next Season
If you're looking ahead to 2026, here is how you should view the power landscape:
- Bet on Youth: Guys like Junior Caminero and Nick Kurtz haven't even hit their physical peaks yet. Their HR totals are likely to go up, not down.
- Watch the Parks: Keep an eye on players moving to hitter-friendly environments. Rafael Devers' production in San Francisco was a surprise, but his power plays anywhere.
- The Catcher Gap: Cal Raleigh has created a massive gap in value at the catcher position. In fantasy or general analysis, a catcher who hits 40+ is now the "new normal" for the elite tier.
The 2025 season will be remembered as the year the "Big Dumper" outpaced the titans. Cal Raleigh’s 60 home runs weren't supposed to happen, but that's the beauty of the game. Every time we think we have the mlb home run leaders this season figured out, someone like Raleigh comes along and clears the fence. Over and over again.