New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto and first baseman Pete Alonso were named 2025 Hank Aaron Award Finalists by MLB.
“The award recognizes the most outstanding regular season offensive performers in each league,” the league said in a press release on Monday.
The decision to choose Soto and Alonso as Hank Aaron Award finalists came after they put together impressive numbers with the Mets despite their team missing the playoffs by a game.
Hank Aaron Award Finalists
Alonso was named a Hank Aaron Award Finalist after hitting 38 home runs and 126 RBI in 624 at-bats. He ended the year with a .272 average, .871 OPS, and 3.4 WAR. Despite the impressive numbers, Alonso opted out of the final year of his two-year, $54 million contract he signed last offseason. He left $24 million on the table.
“Every single day it’s been a pleasure coming to work and putting on the orange and blue,” Alonso said during a Sep. 28 interview. “I’ve appreciated it and have been nothing but grateful every day.”
Alonso, a five-time MLB All-Star and the 2019 National League Rookie of the Year, is looking to sign a long-term deal after becoming a Hank Aaron Award Finalist. If the Mets are unwilling to give him what he wants, teams such as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox can send a deal his way.
“Nothing is guaranteed, but we’ll see what happens. I’ve loved being a Met,” Alonso added. “Hopefully, they’ve appreciated me the same.”
Soto’s Impressive Season
Soto, alongside Alonso, was named a 2025 Hank Aaron Award finalist. The All-Star outfielder became the first member of the Mets to record 40 home runs and 30 stolen bases. He ended his first season in Queens with 43 home runs, 38 steals, and 105 RBI.
In 577 at-bats, Soto ended with a .263 average and a .921 OPS. He recorded 15 hits, four home runs, and 10 RBI in his last 15 games. Even though New York came up short of making the postseason, Soto still thinks the Mets have a chance to succeed in the future.
“One season is not going to determine what we have here,” he said during a Sep. 28 interview. “We have everything that we need to go all the way.”
Unlike Alonso, Soto has 14 seasons remaining on his contract with the Mets.
Looking Ahead
MLB said it will announce the recipients of the Hank Aaron Award on November 13 at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. This year marks the award’s 26th anniversary since its introduction in 1999.
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