Tim Kurkjian: ‘One of the greatest Game 7’s ever played’ (0:44)Tim Kurkjian highlights what made the 2025 World Series one of the greatest ever. (0:44)
After a thrilling month of playoff action — so thrilling, in fact, that it stretched into early November — it’s time for our 2025 MLB All-October team.
Though Yoshinobu Yamamoto earned World Series MVP honors for his incredible performance during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ seven-game triumph over the Toronto Blue Jays, that doesn’t tell the whole story of the month. So to honor the best from every stage of the postseason, let’s hand out hardware to a roster of October stars.
From wild-card-round sensations to World Series standouts, here are the players our ESPN MLB panel of experts voted as the best of the best at every position along with some award hardware for the brightest stars of October.
Why he’s here: In a down year for the position, Hoerner had the highest OPS (.973) of all second baseman during the postseason while playing stellar defense as the Cubs dispatched the Padres and went on to force a Game 5 against the Brewers in the NLDS.
How little production did second basemen provide this October? One voter chose Miguel Rojas as his pick for the position solely based on one all-important Game 7 swing.
Why he’s here: Clement was instrumental in the Blue Jays’ run, providing consistent production at the plate and solid defense on the field. His 1.032 postseason OPS topped all third baseman and his 30 hits were not only the most of any player this October but set a major league record for most hits in a single postseason.
Why he’s here: The pickings were pretty slim at shortstop and Gimenez earned this spot more for his clutch hits than his overall numbers.
OF: Addison Barger, Toronto Blue Jays OF: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees OF: Jackson Chourio, Milwaukee Brewers
Why they’re here: There was simply no better pitcher in the sport than Yamamoto this October, as the Dodgers ace authored one of the best postseasons in recent history. Before he won World Series MVP honors by winning three games in the Fall Classic, Yamamoto was masterful in a complete-game NLCS Game 2 gem against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Yesavage bursted onto the scene this October in a way rarely seen before, becoming the World Series Game 1 starter just six weeks after making his MLB debut. He provided Toronto with two of the best starts of the postseason — Game 2 against the Yankees and Game 5 against the Dodgers.
Why they’re here: Misiorowski played a crucial role on the mound for Milwaukee as a starter coming out of the pen to throw bulk innings of high-leverage relief — with his first eight career postseason pitches clocking in at 102 mph or faster. In 12 innings over three games, he totaled 16 strikeouts while giving up six hits and three runs (two earned) and issuing three walks.
Vest was nearly unhittable in October as Detroit’s primary closer, giving up only two hits — and zero runs, for a 0.00 postseason ERA — and striking out nine over eight innings to help the Tigers beat Cleveland in the wild-card round and stay competitive against Seattle in the ALDS before they ultimately lost in a 15-inning Game 5.
Honorable mentions: Roki Sasaki, Los Angeles Dodgers; Andres Munoz, Seattle Mariners; Louis Varland, Toronto Blue Jays
Tim Kurkjian: ‘One of the greatest Game 7’s ever played’ (0:44)Tim Kurkjian highlights what made the 2025 World Series one of the greatest ever. (0:44)
Honorable mentions: Alejandro Kirk, Toronto Blue Jays; Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
Honorable mentions: Michael Busch, Chicago Cubs; Josh Naylor, Seattle Mariners
Honorable mentions: Jorge Polanco, Seattle Mariners; Miguel Rojas, Los Angeles Dodgers
Honorable mention: Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians
Honorable mention: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners; Kerry Carpenter, Detroit Tigers
Honorable mention: George Springer, Toronto Blue Jays
SP: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers SP: Trey Yesavage, Toronto Blue Jays
Honorable mentions: Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers; Blake Snell, Los Angeles Dodgers; Tyler Glasnow, Los Angeles Dodgers; Cam Schlittler, New York Yankees; Cristopher Sanchez, Philadelphia Phillies
RP: Jacob Misiorowski, Milwaukee Brewers RP: Will Vest, Detroit Tigers
Best October introduction: Trey Yesavage, Addison Barger
Tim Kurkjian highlights what made the 2025 World Series one of the greatest ever. (0:44)