Aaron Judge is on pace to have one of the greatest offensive seasons in Major League history. He returns to his usual throne atop our Week 12 #HighFive list after putting together one of his best weeks in 2025.
1. Aaron Judge
Aaron Judge photo by Charles Nyonga for MLBbro.com
The American League Player of the Month for May has yet to slow down through the first two weeks of June. Judge is currently on pace to hit 61 home runs, just one off of the American League-record 62 he hit in 2022 and three more than last year’s 58. He received the MVP award in both years.
Over his last seven games he’s posted a .444/.531/.963 slash line with nine RBI, four walks, two steals and four home runs, all coming over the last three games.
Judge entered Thursday leading in almost every offensive category. He trails Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh in homers. This weekend Judges Yankees will travel to Boston for round two of their rivalry against the Red Sox.
2. “Black Jack” Flaherty
Jack Flaherty dominated one of the top offenses in the National League to earn the No. 2 spot on Week 12 of our #HighFive list.
For Flaherty, it was his third consecutive win and his fourth in the last five games. In his last three starts he’s pitched 18 combined innings and allowed only one earned run on eight hits with 21 strikeouts and just four walks. The nine strikeouts for Flaherty tied a season-high and now have him in sole possession of fifth place in the American League with 85, while his .204 batting average against ranks in the top 10. Flaherty will look for a fourth consecutive win Saturday when the Tigers take on the Cincinnati Reds.
READ: Jack Flaherty Blanks Cubs, Records Nine Strikeouts In Six-Inning Gem
3. Marcus Semien
Marcus Semien has been one of the best hitters on the planet over the last two weeks after a horrid start to 2025 to earn a spot on our #HighFive list for the first time this season.
Semien has struggled early offensively in each of his four seasons with the Rangers, but as the calendar begins to turn to June, he usually elevates to another level. This year is no different. What started with a 4-for-4 game against the Cardinals at the end of May has carried into a .387/.472/.774 slashline in June including multi-hit games.
Semien entered Thursday hitting safely in six of his last seven contests. Over that span he hit three homers, drove in and scored seven runs and had a stolen base.
4. Byron Buxton
Byron Buxton has taken a page out of Semien’s book and gone on a tear since the end of May as he takes the fourth spot on our Week 12 #HighFive list.
He is playing like he wants a spot in the outfield for the American League team over the last week, showing every tool that has him in the category of best players in the Majors when he is healthy and available. Wednesday was one of those nights where he had everything on display. His 478-ft home run was the second longest bomb hit in the Majors this year.
On the defensive side, his diving catch with two on and two outs in the third inning to rob Marcus Semien of extra bases saved Minnesota from what would have been an early dagger.
Buxton is slashing .333/.538/.611 with eight walks, a stolen base and four RBI over his last seven games.
5. Andrew McCutchen “Cutch”
Pittsburgh Pirates captain Andrew McCutchen takes the finals spot on Week 12 of our #HighFive list after his latest historic feat. His sixth home run of the year was the 241st of his career and put him in third place on the all-time franchise list as he passed the iconic Roberto Clemente. Although his time in the Majors could come to an end at any point over the next few years, McCutchen still has some juice left in the tank. In his last seven games he is hitting .296 with seven RBI.
The 2013 National League MVP deserves all flowers as he is one of faces of Black baseball during the 2000’s. For me personally, as a black outfielder I wanted to do everything like McCutchen as a ball player. From the dreadlocks to the white shooter sleeve on his right arm he inspired me and many others, and he continues to do so.
READ: Andrew McCutchen Reflects On Pittsburgh Pirates Journey With MLBbro.com
This weekend he will bring his Pirates into Wrigley Field to take on the Cubs.
