The 2025 Major League Baseball season began on March 18 (with a special two-game Tokyo Series), while the regular season ended on September 28. The postseason began on September 30. The World Series then began on October 24 and concluded on November 1 with the Los Angeles Dodgers defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games to win their ninth title in franchise history and their eighth since moving to Los Angeles in 1958.
The 95th All-Star Game was played on July 15 at Truist Park in Cumberland, Georgia, the home of the Atlanta Braves. The National League won the "swing-off" tiebreaker after a 6–6 tie after nine innings.
The Athletics relocated from Oakland to West Sacramento, California, for at least three seasons before their planned relocation to the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Beginning with this season, the team is currently branded as the Athletics, with no city name attached.
This was the first season since 2005 in which there was not a no-hitter pitched.
For the first time in Major League history, a season began and concluded beyond the borders of the United States. The season opened in Tokyo, Japan, and concluded in Toronto, Canada. This was also the first time since 1964 that no team played in a fixed dome stadium, due to the Tampa Bay Rays temporarily playing at the open-air George M. Steinbrenner Field that season after damage to their usual home stadium, Tropicana Field, due to Hurricane Milton, as every indoor stadium that was used that season had a retractable roof.
Schedule Major League Baseball released its 2025 schedule on July 18, 2024. There were 162 games scheduled for all teams. The scheduling formula was modified this season to increase the number of games between "prime" Interleague rivals from four to six, playing two three-game series instead of two two-game series. May 16–18 was also designated as "Rivalry Weekend", featuring 11 series of these "prime" Interleague rivals.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs opened the season at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 18–19 in the MLB Tokyo Series 2025. Opening Day in North America occurred on March 27 for all teams except for the Colorado Rockies and the Tampa Bay Rays, which was rescheduled to March 28 due to work done at the Rays' temporary ballpark Steinbrenner Field.
The 95th All-Star Game was played on July 15, hosted by the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in Cumberland, Georgia. The Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds were scheduled to play a game at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee, on August 2. Due to inclement weather, the start time was pushed back and then the game was suspended in the bottom of the first inning. The game was completed on August 3. The MLB Little League Classic at Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was played on August 17 with the Seattle Mariners taking on the New York Mets. The postseason began on September 30.
Rule changes On January 25, 2025, MLB announced a set of rule changes to take effect during the season: If a team violates the previously instituted ban on the infield shift, which requires a minimum of two infielders on either side of second base and all four infielders positioned with both feet on the infield dirt when a pitch is thrown, the batter will be given first base, and runners will be able to advance one base. Previously, the penalty for violating the ban was an automatic ball. Teams will continue to have the ability to decline the penalty and accept the results of the play. Replay review will now be able to check whether or not a player overruns second or third base, and call them out for abandonment, even if that was not the subject of the original review.
Spring training Spring training for the 2025 season began in late February and lasted through most of March. Teams began workouts and practice for spring training beginning in mid-February. Pitchers and catchers reported first, followed by position players a few days later.
Prior to the start of the regular season, each team played between 29 and 34 spring training games (with the exception of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, who played a shortened spring training of 23 and 24 games respectively, due to their regular season games in Tokyo), beginning on February 20. There were several times during spring training when a team had two different squads playing different teams simultaneously. In addition to spring training games, teams occasionally played exhibition games with non-MLB teams, such as Minor League Baseball teams, independent teams, or college teams. These exhibition games are not counted in spring training standings. Spring training ended on March 25, two days before the Opening Day.
MLB continued Spring Breakout for a second season, an initiative from that sees each organization put together a team of their best prospects to compete against another organization's prospects. Spring Breakout took place from March 13 to March 16.
Experimental rules During spring training, 13 stadiums were used to test the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS). When ABS was available, teams had two challenges per game, retaining successful challenges. The batter, catcher, or pitcher could challenge a ball or strike call, but had to do so immediately and without assistance from anyone else. ABS was also used during the All-Star Game.
Standings
American League
National League
Postseason
The postseason began on September 30 and ended on November 1.
Bracket
Managerial changes General managers Off-season TeamFormer GMReason For LeavingNew GMNotesMinnesota TwinsThad Levine FiredJeremy Zoll On October 4, 2024, Levine departed after an eight-year tenure with the team.San Francisco GiantsFarhan ZaidiFiredZack Minasian On September 30, 2024, Zaidi was fired after six years as the team's president of baseball operations. The same day, the Giants named former catcher Buster Posey as the new president of baseball operations. On November 1, Posey hired Zack Minasian to serve as general manager.
In-season TeamFormer GMInterim managerReason For LeavingNew GMNotesWashington NationalsMike RizzoMike DeBartoloFiredAni Kilambi On July 6, Rizzo was fired after 17 years as the team's president of baseball operations. The Nationals named assistant general manager Mike DeBartolo as the interim general manager. Ani Kilambi was named the new general manager on December 17. This is his first major executive role. He was previously the assistant general manager for the Philadelphia Phillies until his hiring.
Field managers Off-season TeamFormer ManagerInterim ManagerReason For LeavingNew ManagerNotes Chicago White Sox Pedro Grifol Grady Sizemore Fired Will Venable On August 8, 2024, the White Sox fired Grifol. In two seasons as manager of the White Sox, he compiled a record of with no playoff appearances. Sizemore was named as the interim manager on the same day Grifol and bench coach Charlie Montoyo were fired. This was his first managerial position. Venable was hired on October 31. He had previously been an assistant coach for the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and Texas Rangers. Cincinnati Reds David Bell Freddie Benavides Terry Francona On September 22, 2024, the Reds fired David Bell. During his six seasons as the Reds skipper, Bell compiled a record of with one playoff appearance during the 2020 COVID-shortened season. Benavides, the current bench coach, was named as the interim manager for the rest of the season. This was his first managerial position. On October 4, Francona was hired as the new manager for the Reds. Miami Marlins Skip Schumaker N/AContract expired Clayton McCullough On September 29, 2024, the Marlins announced that Skip Schumaker would not return as the team manager for the 2025 season. In his two seasons as the Marlins skipper, Schumaker compiled a record of , with one playoff appearance. On November 11, McCullough was hired as the new manager for the Marlins.
In-season Team Former manager Interim manager Reason for leaving New manager Notes Pittsburgh Pirates Derek Shelton N/A FiredDon Kelly On May 8, after a start to the season, the Pirates fired Derek Shelton. During his six seasons as the Pirates skipper, Shelton compiled a record of with no playoff appearance. Kelly, the current bench coach, was named as the manager for the rest of the season. This is his first managerial position. Colorado Rockies Bud Black Warren Schaeffer Warren Schaeffer On May 11, after a start to the season, the Rockies fired Bud Black. Black finished his Rockies managerial career with a record with two postseason appearances. Warren Schaeffer was named the interim manager for the remainder of the season. This will be his first managerial position. On November 24, the Rockies removed the interim tag and named Schaeffer as the new Rockies manager. Baltimore Orioles Brandon Hyde Tony Mansolino Craig Albernaz On May 17, after a start to the season, the Orioles fired Brandon Hyde. Hyde finished his Orioles managerial career with a record with two postseason appearances. Hyde was named AL Manager of the Year in 2023, leading the Orioles to a 100-win season (their first since the 1980 season) and their first AL East division title since 2014. Tony Mansolino was named the interim manager for the remainder of the season. This will be his first managerial position. Albernaz was hired as the new manager on October 27. This will be his first managerial position.Washington NationalsDave MartinezMiguel CairoBlake Butera On July 6, after a start to the season, Martinez was fired by the Nationals. Martinez finished his Nationals career with a record with one postseason appearance, which they won the World Series after the 2019 season. Miguel Cairo was named interim manager on July 7. This will be his second stint as manager after leading the Chicago White Sox in 2022 with a record of . On October 31, Blake Butera was hired as the new permanent manager of the team, making this his first managerial position.
League leaders American League
+ Hitting leadersStat PlayerTotal AVG Aaron Judge (NYY) .331 OPS Aaron Judge (NYY) 1.145 HR Cal Raleigh (SEA) 60 RBI Cal Raleigh (SEA) 125 R Aaron Judge (NYY) 137 H Bobby Witt Jr. (KC) 184 SB José Caballero (NYY)/) 49
+ Pitching leadersStat PlayerTotal W Max Fried (NYY) 19 L Jack Flaherty (DET) 15 ERA Tarik Skubal (DET) 2.21 K Garrett Crochet (BOS) 255 IP Garrett Crochet (BOS) 205.1 SV Carlos Estévez (KC) 42 WHIP Tarik Skubal (DET) 0.89
National League
+ Hitting leadersStat PlayerTotal AVG Trea Turner (PHI) .304 OPS Shohei Ohtani (LAD) 1.014 HR Kyle Schwarber (PHI) 56 RBI Kyle Schwarber (PHI) 132 R Shohei Ohtani (LAD) 146 H Luis Arráez (SD) 181 SB Oneil Cruz (PIT)Juan Soto (NYM) 38
+ Pitching leadersStat PlayerTotal W Freddy Peralta (MIL) 17 L Kyle Freeland (COL) 17 ERA Paul Skenes (PIT) 1.97 K Logan Webb (SF) 224 IP Logan Webb (SF) 207.0 SV Robert Suárez (SD) 40 WHIP Paul Skenes (PIT) 0.95
Milestones Batters Tyler O'Neill (BAL): Hit a home run on Opening Day for the sixth consecutive season, extending his Major League record. He hit a three-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays on March 27.
Kameron Misner (TB): Became the first player in Major League history to hit his first home run as a walk-off on Opening Day. He accomplished this on March 28 against the Colorado Rockies.
Carson Kelly (CHC): Became the first player in Major League history to hit for the cycle in March. He accomplished this feat on March 31 against the Athletics.
Aaron Judge (NYY): Became the first player in Major League history to have at least five home runs with at least 15 RBIs in his team's first six games of a season on April 3 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Became the first player in Major League history to have at least six home runs and 17 RBIs in his team's first seven games of a season on April 4 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.