In a historic first for Major League Baseball, five players have launched at least 30 home runs before the 2025 All-Star break—a feat never before achieved in the game’s long and storied history. The elite group includes Cal Raleigh, Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Eugenio Suárez, and Kyle Schwarber, each of whom is on pace for potentially legendary power totals.
The 30+ Home Run Club at the Break
- Cal Raleigh (38 HR) The Mariners’ switch-hitting catcher has exploded offensively in 2025, already surpassing his career high. Raleigh’s 38 homers are just one shy of Barry Bonds’ all-time All-Star break record (39 in 2001), the same year Bonds went on to hit a record 73 home runs.
- Aaron Judge (35 HR) The Yankees captain reached 350 career home runs faster than any player in MLB history—doing so in just 1,088 games, well ahead of legends like Mark McGwire, Juan González, and Alex Rodriguez. Judge continues to anchor New York’s offense with elite power and patience.
- Shohei Ohtani (32 HR) Ohtani is redefining what’s possible in baseball. The Dodgers’ two-way phenom is not only in the midst of his fifth straight 30-homer season, but also boasts a 1.00 ERA through five starts since returning from elbow surgery. His dual-threat dominance is unmatched.
- Eugenio Suárez (31 HR) Suárez has caught fire for the Diamondbacks, belting 10 home runs in his last 22 games. He made headlines earlier in the season with a four-homer game, becoming just the 19th player in MLB history to accomplish the feat.
- Kyle Schwarber (30 HR) Philadelphia’s slugger continues to thrive in his 11th MLB season. Schwarber has notably reduced his strikeout rate to a six-year low while maintaining his reputation as one of the game’s most dangerous power hitters.
Why This Matters
This surge isn’t the result of a league-wide home run spike. In fact, the overall HR rate is tied for the second-lowest in a decade, and MLB’s fly balls are reportedly traveling shorter distances this season. Instead, this record-setting moment reflects a perfect storm of elite sluggers performing at peak levels.
Each of the five players has been among the top 10 in home runs since 2022, with most also ranking highly in strikeouts and walks—a testament to their roles in modern “three true outcomes” baseball.
What’s Next: Chasing 50
According to FanGraphs projections, multiple players could reach the 50-home-run milestone by season’s end:
- Judge: 55 HR (projected)
- Raleigh: 53 HR
- Ohtani: 49 HR
- Schwarber: 47 HR
If four players reach 50 homers this season, 2025 would join only 1998 and 2001 in MLB history with that many 50-HR campaigns in a single year.
Bottom Line
This All-Star break marks a rare moment in baseball where power, talent, and timing have aligned. With half the season still to go, fans are witnessing one of the most impressive collective slugging displays ever—and the second half promises even more fireworks.
