Major League Baseball has crowned its 2025 Rookies of the Year, and the honors go to Nick Kurtz of the Oakland Athletics in the American League and Drake Baldwin of the Atlanta Braves in the National League. Both players delivered standout performances that set them apart in a season full of promising young talent.
American League: Nick Kurtz Makes History
Oakland Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz was a unanimous choice for the AL Rookie of the Year, becoming only the 14th player in league history to achieve that distinction. The 22-year-old, affectionately nicknamed “The Big Amish”, is the first A’s player to win the award since 2009 and only the second in franchise history to earn unanimous honors, joining Mark McGwire (1987).
“It’s a great honor that I’m going to be put up with some of baseball’s greats who won the award,” Kurtz said. “It puts some finishing touches on the year, look back on it and enjoy what I’ve done a little bit.” (Quote via AP News)
Kurtz edged out his own teammate Jacob Wilson, who finished second in the voting, while Roman Anthony of the Boston Red Sox placed third. His dominance at the plate and steady defense made him a cornerstone for Oakland’s rebuilding efforts.
National League: Baldwin Breaks Braves’ Catcher Drought
In the NL, Drake Baldwin, catcher for the Atlanta Braves, earned 21 of 30 first-place votes, beating out Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton. Baldwin becomes the first Braves catcher to win the award since Earl Williams in 1971 and the first NL catcher to claim the honor since Buster Posey in 2010.
“I was just going into it with an open mind, kind of realizing how cool it is to even be a finalist for it,” Baldwin said. “But I didn’t know how it was going to turn out. I know it’s tough to rank or try to judge who had a better year between a pitcher and a hitter or a catcher.”
Horton finished second in the voting, while Brewers third baseman Caleb Durbin came in third. Baldwin’s win also triggered a prospect promotion incentive for Atlanta, granting the team an extra draft pick after the first round in next year’s amateur draft under the current collective bargaining agreement.
Financial Rewards for Rising Stars
Along with the prestige, the winners and runners-up are also cashing in. Baldwin and Kurtz will each receive $750,000 from MLB’s pre-arbitration bonus pool, while runners-up Cade Horton and Jacob Wilson will take home $500,000 each. This incentive program, introduced under the latest CBA, aims to reward young players who excel early in their careers.
