Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani appear to be hurtling toward more MVP awards, but the chase for MLB's home run crown in 2025 favors two different names.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh and Philadelphia Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber each eclipsed 50 home runs earlier in September, and their special seasons have sparked postseason dreams for their respective teams. Schwarber and the Phillies clinched the NL East, while Raleigh and the Mariners are have also secured their first division title in nearly a quarter-century.
Home run milestones might come secondary to each player, but Schwarber and Raleigh have been in a close battle to be baseball's home run king in 2025.
Here's an updated look at the numbers for both sluggers.
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MLB home run leaders
Updated through games on Sept. 26.
| Player | HRs | Games remaining | Team |
| Cal Raleigh | 60 | 1 | Mariners |
| Kyle Schwarber | 56 | 1 | Phillies |
| Shohei Ohtani | 53 | 1 | Dodgers |
| Aaron Judge | 53 | 1 | Yankees |
| Eugenio Suarez | 49 | 1 | Mariners |
Raleigh leads MLB with 60 home runs to Schwarber's 56, followed by Ohtani and Judge's 53. Ohtani and Judge led their respective leagues in 2024, with Judge winning the home run crown.
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How many home runs does Cal Raleigh have?
Raleigh leads MLB with 60 home runs this season. He hit No. 50 on Aug. 25, becoming the first to reach the mark in 2025. The catcher then swatted No. 60 on Sept. 25, becoming just the fourth player in AL history to reach that figure.
The Home Run Derby champion is on pace to hit 60 home runs.
Cal Raleigh stats
Stats through Sept. 26.
| Games | AVG | HR | RBI | Hits | OPS |
| 158 | .246 | 60 | 125 | 146 | .948 |
Raleigh has made history in multiple ways in 2025, cruising past Salvador Perez's record for home runs by a catcher in a single season, breaking Mickey Mantle's record for most home runs by a switch-hitter in a season, and surpassing Ken Griffey Jr. for the most single-season home runs in Mariners history.
While Raleigh's second half has been slower than his dominant first half, both from a power and contact hitting standpoint, he has continued to hit enough for his 2025 season to be considered one of the all-time greats among all sluggers, let alone catchers.
Mariners schedule 2025
| Dates | Opponent |
| Sept. 26-28 | vs. Dodgers |
The Mariners swept the Astros in a massive series that virtually decided the AL West. They'll close out their 2025 regular season against the Dodgers.
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How many home runs does Kyle Schwarber have?
Schwarber is atop the NL with 56 home runs this season. He hit No. 50 on Sept. 9, becoming the second player to reach the mark in 2025.
Schwarber is on pace to hit 56 home runs, which would leave him just one shy of tying Ryan Howard's single-season Phillies record of 58.
Kyle Schwarber stats
Stats through Sept. 27.
| Games | AVG | HR | RBI | Hits | OPS |
| 160 | .241 | 56 | 132 | 146 | .931 |
Like Raleigh, Schwarber has never been known for his contact hitting, but his power has been undeniable since he first broke into the majors with the Cubs in 2015. The 32-year-old forced himself into the MVP conversation with Ohtani with the best power-hitting season of his career, winning the All-Star Game for the NL with his swing-off performance and making history in August as the 21st player in MLB history to hit four home runs in a game.
Schwarber is set to become a free agent after the season, and he would very much like to hit the open market with a second World Series ring.
Phillies schedule 2025
| Dates | Opponent |
| Sept. 26-28 | vs. Twins |
The Phillies have already secured the NL East and a bye, without much left to play for. They will finish out the regular season at home against the Twins.
MLB home run record for one season
Barry Bonds' 73 home runs are an MLB single-season record. Here is the full leaderboard:
| Player | Home Runs | Team | Season |
| Barry Bonds | 73 | Giants | 2001 |
| Mark McGwire | 70 | Cardinals | 1998 |
| Sammy Sosa | 66 | Cubs | 1998 |
| Mark McGwire | 65 | Cardinals | 1999 |
| Sammy Sosa | 64 | Cubs | 2001 |
| Sammy Sosa | 63 | Cubs | 1999 |
| Aaron Judge | 62 | Yankees | 2022 |
| Roger Maris | 61 | Yankees | 1962 |
| Babe Ruth | 60 | Yankees | 1927 |
| Cal Raleigh | 60 | Mariners | 2025 |
| Babe Ruth | 59 | Yankees | 1921 |
| Giancarlo Stanton | 59 | Marlins | 2017 |
| Aaron Judge | 58 | Yankees | 2024 |
| Ryan Howard | 58 | Phillies | 2006 |
| Mark McGwire | 58 | Athletics/Cardinals | 1997 |
| Hank Greenberg | 58 | Tigers | 1938 |
| Jimmie Foxx | 58 | Athletics | 1934 |
Raleigh pulled ahead of his power-hitting counterparts and became only the seventh player in MLB history to reach 60 home runs, putting himself in rare territory among some of baseball's all-time greats. He's also just the fourth player in AL history to reach 60 homers.
Even 50-home run campaigns aren't something to shrug off regardless, as only 10 players have hit 50 home runs in more than one season.
There have now been a total of ten 60-home run seasons in MLB history, with Judge owning the most recent in 2022 prior to Raleigh reaching the mark.
Schwarber can also still take aim at Ryan Howard's Phillies record of 58 home runs in a season, while Raleigh already broke Ken Griffey Jr.'s Mariners record of 56 home runs in a season.