Who was named MVP of the 2025 World Series?

Yoshinobu Yamamoto was named MVP of the 2025 World Series.

The Dodgers pitcher earned the award after producing three victories in the seven-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. He threw a complete game in Game 2, returned to win Game 6, and then protected the Dodgers’ lead in Game 7 with 2⅔ scoreless innings. His workload and effectiveness made him the central pitching story of the championship.

Yamamoto joined Los Angeles before the 2024 season after becoming one of Japan’s premier pitchers with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball. The Dodgers signed him to a 12-year, $325 million contract, then the largest deal ever given to an MLB pitcher. His 2025 World Series performance helped validate that investment on baseball’s biggest stage.

The award is distinct from the regular-season Most Valuable Player award. Freddie Freeman won the 2024 World Series MVP for Los Angeles, while Yamamoto received the honor in 2025. Will Smith, Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani were Dodgers teammates, but none won this series’ MVP award.