The Unforgettable Highlights That Shaped MLB’s 2025 Season
The 2025 Major League Baseball season delivered a showcase of unforgettable achievements, historic performances, and dramatic postseason moments. From clutch home runs to record-breaking feats, the year offered a collection of highlights that will resonate for seasons to come.
Below are the
Capital One Moments of the Year—the plays and performances that defined baseball’s latest chapter.
1. Dodgers Capture Back-to-Back World Series Titles
In a heart-pounding Game 7, the
Los Angeles Dodgers emerged victorious over the Toronto Blue Jays, securing their second consecutive World Series championship. Holding a tight 5–4 lead in the 11th inning, with runners on the corners and one out,
Yoshinobu Yamamoto—pitching on zero days’ rest after winning Game 6—forced a crucial double play to seal the title against Mexico’s Alejandro Kirk.
2. Will Smith’s Game-Changing Home Run in Game 7
Game 7 delivered no shortage of drama, but
Will Smith’s 11th-inning blast became the defining swing. His go-ahead home run ranked among the most impactful postseason homers ever measured by win probability. With momentum instantly shifting, the Dodgers closed out the inning and clinched their second straight championship.
3. Shohei Ohtani’s Historic Two-Way Masterpiece in the NLCS
In Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Brewers,
Shohei Ohtani delivered what may be one of the greatest all-around performances in baseball history. Showcasing his unmatched two-way dominance, Ohtani blasted three home runs—measuring 446, 469, and 427 feet—while striking out 10 batters across six scoreless innings. His extraordinary outing earned him
NLCS MVP honors.
4. Nick Kurtz’s Four-Homer Breakout in Houston
Rookie sensation
Nick Kurtz authored a night for the ages on July 25 in Houston. The Athletics slugger went 6-for-6 with four home runs, becoming the first rookie in MLB history to accomplish the feat. His standout performance highlighted a remarkable debut season in which he hit 36 home runs and posted a 1.002 OPS over 117 games, earning unanimous AL Rookie of the Year honors.
5. Freddie Freeman Walks It Off in the 18th Inning
A year after smashing a dramatic grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series,
Freddie Freeman once again delivered postseason heroics. In an epic 18-inning battle during Game 3 of the 2025 World Series, Freeman launched a walk-off home run just minutes before midnight in Los Angeles. With the blast, he became the first player in World Series history to hit multiple walk-off homers in the Fall Classic.
