Major MLB players chase significant milestones in 2025

The 2025 Major League Baseball season is here, and many players are close to reaching impressive career milestones. These achievements could mark significant moments in their careers and in MLB history. Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers is aiming for his third straight Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. He won the AL MVP in 2023 and last season captured the NL MVP with an outstanding performance. After missing the 2024 season due to surgery, he is back to hitting and pitching, hoping to join Barry Bonds as one of the few players to win three consecutive MVPs. Luis Arraez, now with the Padres, is looking to win his fourth straight batting title. He has already made history by winning three batting titles with three different teams. If he succeeds this season, he will join an elite group of players who have won four or more titles in a row. Five players are close to hitting 300 career home runs. Kyle Schwarber, Eugenio Suárez, Marcell Ozuna, Salvador Perez, and Mookie Betts all need between 22 and 29 more home runs to reach this milestone. Perez would become just the eighth catcher to achieve this. Mike Trout of the Angels is looking to reach 400 career home runs, needing just 22 more. His journey depends heavily on his health, as injuries have affected him for several seasons. If he stays healthy, he could be the 59th player to hit 400 home runs. Two players are on the brink of achieving 1,000 runs batted in (RBI): Bryce Harper and Mike Trout. Harper needs 24 more RBIs, while Trout needs 46. Consistent health for Trout is crucial, as he has struggled to reach this mark in recent years. Manny Machado of the Padres is just 100 hits away from 2,000 career hits. He has averaged 157 hits per season over the past three years, putting him on track to reach this milestone during the second half of the season. Lastly, Terry Francona, the new manager of the Reds, is 50 wins away from 2,000 managerial wins. It is almost certain he will achieve this milestone, solidifying his legacy in baseball. Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers is aiming for 3,000 career strikeouts. He has 2,968 strikeouts and needs just 32 more. However, Kershaw is starting the season on the injured list, raising concerns about his ability to reach this goal due to past injuries.