In a season full of surprises on the diamond, Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin has been named the 2025 National League Rookie of the Year. The award, voted on by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, marks the 10th time a Brave has snagged this honor, underscoring the team's knack for developing young stars. Baldwin's steady presence behind the plate and timely hits helped Atlanta push deep into the playoffs, though some question if his .285 average and 18 home runs quite matched the hype around other debutants.
Over in the American League, Oakland Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz took home the hardware unanimously, capping a breakout year with a staggering performance. Kurtz etched his name in lore with a 6-for-6 night including four homers against Houston on July 25, joining just two other modern-era rookies with an OPS+ over 170 in at least 450 plate appearances. His 32 dingers and defensive wizardry at first base turned heads, even as the A's struggled overall.
Finalists like Milwaukee's Caleb Durbin and Chicago's Cade Horton gave Baldwin a run in the NL, while Jacob Wilson finished second to Kurtz in the AL. These awards highlight how rookies like Baldwin and Kurtz injected energy into a league sometimes bogged down by veterans.
As MLB looks ahead, one wonders if this new crop will sustain the momentum or fade under bigger lights.
