The Major League Baseball Player’s Association (MLBPA) gives annual awards which are voted on by the player’s themselves, hence the name Player’s Choice Awards. The awards highlight achievements both on the field and off the field and were voted on by players in September. The awards were first given out in 1992. This year, Aaron Nola was honored for off the field achievements and Kyle Schwarber was honored for his on the field prowess.

Nola was chosen over five other major league players to win the Players Trust Philanthropist of the Year Award, recognizing his work in the community. The honor is meant to celebrate a player’s altruistic spirit and positive social impact beyond the game of baseball.

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Nola has been active in supporting veterans through the Team Red, White and Blue foundation. For the past two seasons, Nola has donated $1,000 for each strikeout he records, which has totaled $294,000 over the 2024 and 2025 seasons. He also started a charity poker tournament in 2025 that added another $225,000 to Team Red, White and Blue.

Nola also supports the ALS Association through the Strike Out ALS bowling tournament, which led the ALS Association to honor him with its annual Volunteer Impact Award in 2025.

This year’s Philanthropist of the Year finalists also included Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka and
Royals starter Michael Wacha. The Players Trust also recognized White Sox outfielder Mike Tauchman,
Giants pitcher Ryan Walker, and Tigers utility man Zach McKinstry as Most Valuable Philanthropists in
2025.

The MLBPA honored Schwarber on his 56 home run, 132 RBI season in 2025, his fourth season with the Phillies. Schwarber also set career highs in OPS (.928), hits (145) and WAR (4.7), in addition to setting a major league record for home runs by a left-handed hitter against a left-handed pitcher by blasting 23 Schwarbombs versus southpaws. Schwarber’s home run total was just the second 50-plus home run season in Phillies history and he finished just two behind Ryan Howard‘s 58 home run total.

National League Players also selected Paul Skenes (Pirates) as Outstanding Pitcher, Ronald Acuña Jr. (Braves) as Comeback
Player, and Drake Baldwin (Braves) as Outstanding Rookie.

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners was named AL Outstanding Player, and overall Player of the Year. Cincinnati Reds reliever Brent Suter won the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, which goes to the player “whose
leadership most inspires others to higher levels of achievement.”

Along with Raleigh, American League Players voted Tarik Skubal as Outstanding Pitcher, Jacob deGrom
as Comeback Player, and Nick Kurtz as Outstanding Rookie.

Scott Sanderson and Don Baylor are the 2025 co-recipients of the Curt Flood Award. The honor goes to
“a former player, living or deceased, who in the image of Flood demonstrated a selfless, longtime
devotion to the Players Association and advancement of Players’ rights.”