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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Tom Verducci

Tom Verducci’s 2025 First-Half MLB Awards

Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound has bolstered his MVP campaign. | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

There is no fighting gravity, especially when it comes to the weight of the 162-game season. That is why most of the major awards are won in the second half, when playoff spots are won and lost and fatigue can set in.

It happened to Gunnar Henderson last year. The Orioles shortstop was an MVP candidate at the All-Star break last year with 28 homers and a .956 OPS. Gravity pulled him to nine homers and a .799 OPS in the second half.

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