Postseason Spotlight: Players to Watch in the 2025 MLB Playoffs

MLB Postseason Picture obtained from MLB.

With the 2025 Major League Baseball postseason heating up, there are a lot of players to keep an eye on. Players who have been clutch all season long, and those who were considered the underdogs. Let's take a look and see who we need to pay attention to this postseason.

Shohei Ohtani

It’s no surprise that people are always keeping an eye out for Shohei Ohtani. After his second year playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, he has made it to the postseason for the second time in his career. This is his first year pitching after his Tommy John surgery in 2023. Following his surgery, Ohtani immediately bounced back, finishing the regular season with a 2.87 ERA and even broke his own Dodger record by hitting 55 home runs. 

During his first year in the postseason, Ohtani had a .767 OPS with three home runs and 10 runs batted in. While we haven’t seen him pitch in the postseason, his offensive production is something people should keep their eye out for. In the last game of the regular season, Ohtani hit one home run, had one run batted in, and one double. As for pitching, the last time Ohtani pitched was against the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he pitched for six innings, allowed only five hits, and struck out 8 batters. 

Courtesy of Elsa / Getty Images. Photo obtained from NBC News.

It will be his first time playing in the postseason as a two-way player, making baseball fans speculate how he will perform in such a tense atmosphere. With the Dodgers having a shaky bullpen, Ohtani can help be a relief pitcher for the Dodgers. He has even expressed interest in playing as an outfielder. How could someone not keep an eye out for Ohtani during the postseason?

During his first game in the Wildcard Series, Ohtani hit two home runs against the Cincinnati Reds, which just goes to show how dominant he is. It'll be interesting to see how he continues to play in the Wildcard series.

Aaron Judge

This will be Aaron Judge’s eighth year going into the postseason, and baseball fans continue to anticipate how he will play. Following last year's postseason performance, people are hoping to see another side of Judge.

During the regular season, Judge has over 170 hits with 53 home runs with a 1.144 OPS and .688 SLG. While he has an incredible on-base percentage during the regular season, his postseason stats say otherwise. Judge hit three home runs, batting nine runs in and having a .344 OPS. That’s almost half of what he hits during the regular season. 

Photo credits to Jessie Alcheh/AP. Photo obtained from New York Daily News.

Nonetheless, Judge can be in his redemption era following the intense backlash he faced. People want to see the captain win his first World Series championship and continue to show his dominance in baseball.

Judge played against the Boston Red Sox in Game One of the Wildcard Series and got two hits and one strikeout. We're slowly seeing Judge get hot and get on base, which is all that matters. Let's see if Judge can continue to keep his bat hot and help the Yankees win a game against the Blue Jays.

Cal Raleigh

In the 2025 season, Cal Raleigh joined an exclusive list this season by hitting 60 home runs in one season. With an OPS of .948, Raleigh scored 110 runs and batted in 125 runs. Raleigh also plays the demanding position of a catcher. In this season alone, he played in 159 games out of the 162 games during the regular season.

Photo credits to Geoff Stellfox / Getty Images / Tribune News Services. Photo obtained from Herland Net.

The last time Raleigh made an appearance in the postseason was back in 2022, when he had an OPS of .701 from five hits, four runs scored, and one home run. In 2024, Raleigh won the Gold Glove Award, which shows his dominance as a defensive player. With his consistency in defense and offense, he will be able to help in high-pressure situations to bring the Mariners' success.

Even though Raleigh doesn't have too much playoff experience, his offensive production will help the Mariners. With him breaking a record of 60 home runs in one season, pitchers will be wary of how to pitch to him. People need to keep an eye out for Raleigh for his power hitting and clutch performances, and see how he matches up against the Detroit Tigers.

Bryce Harper

Bryce Harper is easily one of the most-watched baseball players due to his career achievements and being a monster on the field. Harper is a four-time Silver Slugger, two-time MVP, and an eight-time All-Star. Harper has been a consistent player throughout his career, including this season.

Photo credits to Steven M. Falk/The Philadelphia Inquirer/ TNS. Courtesy of York Dispatch.

In 2025, Harper had 0.844 OPS with 27 home runs, 75 runs batted in, and 70 walks. He has delivered significant wins, which have led fans to call him a clutch player. Teams always need a player who can play with passion and show a lot of emotion, which Harper embodies. Through the good and the bad, Harper is a fun player to watch.

During previous playoff runs, Harper has shown his best work. He has a 1.016 OPS with 17 home runs, 34 runs batted in, and eight stolen bases. With his power hitting, Harper brings energy and intensity that can cause the rest of the Phillies to rally around him and bring home a championship to Philadelphia.

Harrison Bader

While Harrison Bader can be a "fly under the radar" kind of guy, his postseason stats say otherwise. A player with high energy, regardless of the situation, who is always looking on the bright side. Similar to Harper, Bader is a passionate player who will be able to get the rest of the Phillies going.

Photo courtesy of Eric Hartline-Imagn Images / Eric Hartline-Imagn Images. Photo obtained from Sports Illustrated.

Bader originally started the season with the Minnesota Twins and was traded to Philadelphia in July. The trade didn't stop him from having an explosive offensive production. In Minnesota, Bader had a .778 OPS with 12 home runs and 38 runs batted in. When he moved to Philadelphia, Bader finished the regular season with an OPS of .824 with five home runs and 16 runs batted in.

In just five years of postseason experience, Bader has had an OPS of .809 with 15 runs batted in, five home runs, and three stolen bases. Bader is most known for his performance with the New York Yankees back in 2022, where he obtained an OPS of 1.271 with five home runs, six runs batted in, 10 hits, and four walks. In fact, Bader hit three home runs in Game Four of the ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians to force a Game Five. It will be interesting to see if Bader can get his bat hot once he faces the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Do you think there are any players people should keep their eyes out for? What player are you excited to see in the postseason? Let me know what you think!

Edited by Mary Merensky