The first month of the 2025 MLB season brought the heat. From MVP-caliber bats to stone-cold closers, it was a showcase of dominance from coast to coast — and if you’re a baseball fan in New York, April probably felt like Christmas morning every night.
Let’s break it all down by spotlighting the standouts of April according to MLB.com, one monster performance at a time.
AL Player of the Month: Aaron Judge – Yankees
Let’s not dance around it: Aaron Judge is the best hitter on the planet right now. April wasn’t just good — it was historic. The man is hitting .427 with a 1.282 OPS, tied for the MLB lead in home runs (10), and leading everyone in hits (50) and total bases (89).
He’s hitting with a .500 average over his last 50 plate appearances and seven multi-hit games just to cap off the month in style. He’s not just swinging a hot bat — he’s melting radar guns with exit velocity.
Add in a league-leading 2.9 WAR, and there’s your MVP frontrunner. Don’t blink, or you’ll miss another moonshot into Monument Park.
NL Player of the Month: Pete Alonso – Mets
Let’s slide just a few subway stops over to Queens, where Pete Alonso is turning pitchers into pretzels. You expect the homers — sure. But the .475 OBP? The .342 batting average? This is refined rage, people.
Alonso has evolved into a complete hitter, still racking up 19 extra-base hits (tied for second in baseball) and reaching base in 13 straight games. He is venting his offseason frustration on other teams’ bullpens.
AL Pitcher of the Month: Max Fried – Yankees
Max Fried landed in the Bronx and went straight to work. Big-money signing? Big-time results.
5-0 record, 1.19 ERA, and a .207 opponent average in 37 2/3 innings. Let’s be honest — this is ace behavior. The Yankees are 6-0 in games he’s started, and it’s no fluke. Fried is dotting corners, fooling barrels, and reminding everyone why New York opened the vault for him.
He’s not just holding it down — he’s shutting it down. Every fifth day is Fried Day in the Bronx, and that’s been worth every penny.
NL Pitcher of the Month: Yoshinobu Yamamoto – Dodgers
Want dominance? Look no further than Yoshinobu Yamamoto in L.A. He has a 1.06 ERA, 11.4 K/9, and hitters are batting just .190 against him.
This guy’s second MLB season? He’s pitching like it’s his tenth. Yamamoto has held opponents to one run or fewer in five of his six starts. That’s not just consistency — that’s surgical.
He’s painting the zone like he’s Bob Ross with a breaking ball. Dodgers fans — you’ve got a gem.
AL Rookie of the Month: Kristian Campbell – Red Sox
Remember the name: Kristian Campbell. The Red Sox rookie is showing poise beyond his years.
He’s leading all qualified AL rookies in OPS (.902) and doubles (8) and has hit four homers while maintaining a beautiful .407 OBP. That’s not “adjusting to big-league pitching” — that’s owning it.
At just 22, Campbell looks like a core piece of Boston’s rebuild. What will August look like if this is what he’s doing in April?
NL Rookie of the Month: Luisangel Acuña – Mets
Over in Queens, Luisangel Acuña — yes, Ronald’s little brother — is proving he belongs.
He leads all qualified NL rookies with a .288 batting average and .342 OBP, and he’s making contact like a veteran. He’s not just surviving — he’s competing. The Mets were already cooking with Alonso; Acuña just added more spice to the pot.
It’s early, but you can see the poise, balance, and IQ. He’s not here to be a nice story — he’s here to play.
AL Reliever of the Month: Andrés Muñoz – Mariners
Zero. Zilch. Nada. That’s Muñoz’s ERA through April. And that’s not even the wildest stat.
How about an AL-leading 11 saves, a 0.73 WHIP, and a mind-bending .106 opponent batting average? That’s not a closer — that’s a lockdown specialist. When Muñoz enters the game, it’s over.
Hitters can’t see the ball, can’t square it up, and might want to just sit back down. Seattle’s bullpen? Elite. And Muñoz is the tip of the spear.
NL Reliever of the Month: Robert Suarez – Padres
If you’re trying to match Muñoz, you’ve got to bring the smoke. And Robert Suarez is doing just that in San Diego.
MLB-best 12 saves, 0.57 WHIP, and a 0.64 ERA through 14 appearances. Oh — and he’s holding hitters to the same .106 batting average. Sound familiar?
He’s not flashy, but he’s absolutely filthy. And with all their ups and downs, the Padres know that if they have a lead late, Suarez is closing the door — hard.
That’s Just April, a Superstar Should Come Back in May
Let’s be real — if this is just the first month of the season, we’re in for something special in 2025. Judge is launching MVP rockets, Alonso’s got vengeance in his bat, and the kids — Campbell and Acuña — are rising fast. The big question is will there be two Acuña’s on this list in May? Ronald Acuña should be back by the end of the month for the Atlanta Braves.
