Milestones to Watch During 2025 MLB Season

The 2025 MLB season is here, and while team success will grab most headlines, several players are closing in on career milestones that could land them in the history books.

Let’s dive into the most exciting achievements we might see this year.

## Ohtani chasing unprecedented MVP three-peat

Shohei Ohtani has been absolutely dominant, winning the 2023 American League MVP with the Angels before capturing the National League MVP last year with the Dodgers after becoming the first player ever to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases in a season.

What’s scary for opponents? He’s back on the mound this year after recovering from elbow surgery.

If Ohtani wins a third straight MVP, he’ll join Barry Bonds (2001-04) as the only players in baseball history to win three or more consecutive MVP awards.

## Arraez’s historic batting title chase

Luis Arraez is already in uncharted territory as the first player ever to win three straight batting titles with three different teams (Marlins, Twins, and Padres).

This season, the career .323 hitter could join some truly elite company. Only six players have ever won four consecutive batting titles: Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby, Rod Carew, Wade Boggs, and Tony Gwynn.

Not bad company for a 28-year-old who seems to hit everything thrown his way.

## 300 home run club getting crowded

Five players could reach the 300-homer milestone this season:

Kyle Schwarber (Phillies) needs just 16 more after hitting 38 last year.

Eugenio Suárez (Diamondbacks) is 24 away following his 30-homer season.

Marcell Ozuna (Braves) needs 25 more after crushing 39 last year.

Salvador Perez (Royals) requires 27 homers, exactly what he hit in 2024.

Mookie Betts (Dodgers) needs 29 bombs, which would require a bounce-back from last year’s 19.

Perez would become just the eighth primary catcher to join the 300-homer club, which currently has 162 members.

## Trout’s quest for 400 homers

Mike Trout’s incredible talent has been overshadowed by injuries in recent years. The Angels star played just 29 games last season before knee surgery ended his campaign.

He needs 22 home runs to reach 400 for his career, which would make him the 59th player to reach that mark.

The talent is still there. The question is whether his body will cooperate.

## 1,000 RBI club adding new members?

Bryce Harper needs just 24 RBIs to reach 1,000 for his career. Even in the shortened 2020 season, he drove in 33 runs, so this milestone seems like a lock for the Phillies slugger.

Trout needs 46 RBIs to join the club, but he’s failed to reach that number in each of the last two seasons due to injuries.

Currently, 305 players have reached 1,000 career RBIs.

## Machado closing in on 2,000 hits

Manny Machado is 100 hits away from the 2,000 hit milestone. The Padres star has averaged 157 hits over the past three seasons, so he should get there sometime in the second half.

He’s also just nine runs away from scoring 1,000 for his career.

## Francona approaching managerial milestone

Terry Francona begins his first season with the Reds needing just 50 wins to become only the 13th manager ever to reach 2,000 career victories.

Unless Cincinnati has a historically terrible season, Francona should lock up this achievement that will further cement his future Hall of Fame case.

## Kershaw’s 3,000 strikeout watch

Clayton Kershaw sits just 32 strikeouts away from becoming the 20th pitcher to reach 3,000 career Ks.

The 37-year-old Dodgers legend is starting the season on the injured list as he recovers from surgeries on his left toe and knee. He pitched only 30 innings last year, striking out just 24 batters.

While he should eventually get the strikeouts he needs, his recent injury history means this milestone isn’t quite the guarantee you might expect for a pitcher of his caliber.