Nick Kurtz and Drake Baldwin Crowned 2025 Rookies of the Year

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The 2025 Major League Baseball season introduced two sensational young talents, each of whom grabbed the attention of the baseball world and earned the coveted Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award in their respective leagues. The American League saw a power-hitting performance for the ages, while the National League celebrated the breakout of a rookie catcher forced into the spotlight.

American League: Nick Kurtz, Oakland Athletics (1B)

The AL Rookie of the Year was a runaway, historic choice. First baseman Nick Kurtz of the Oakland Athletics was the unanimous selection, becoming just the 14th player in AL history to receive every first-place vote.

The Unanimous Slugger

Kurtz’s season was defined by raw, effortless power and elite plate discipline, drawing comparisons to some of the game’s greatest sluggers.

Category	Kurtz’s 2025 Rookie Stat	Rookie Rank / Significance
Home Runs	36	Led all rookies by a margin of 15; ranks among the best rookie power seasons ever.
OPS	1.002	Joined an exclusive club of rookies (since 1901) with a 1.000+ OPS in 400+ Plate Appearances.
Batting Average	.290	Highly efficient hitting despite a high strikeout rate.
wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus)	170	Among hitters with 20+ PA, only MVP candidates like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani were better.

The Signature Moment: Kurtz’s most indelible performance came in July when he went 6-for-6 with four home runs in a single game, matching an MLB record with 19 total bases—a historic hitting display that may have sealed the vote mid-season.

Despite a late-April call-up and missing time with a hip injury, Kurtz maximized his 117 games, showcasing the promise of a perennial All-Star. His victory is also a positive sign for the A’s franchise, which saw a teammate, shortstop Jacob Wilson, finish second in the voting.

National League: Drake Baldwin, Atlanta Braves (C)

The National League award went to a player whose impact transcended statistics. Catcher Drake Baldwin of the Atlanta Braves seized an unexpected opportunity and proved he could handle the most demanding position in baseball at the highest level.

The Unexpected Catalyst

Baldwin’s season began with little fanfare, only moving into the starting role after veteran catcher Sean Murphy suffered a cracked rib in Spring Training. Baldwin not only held the job but excelled, earning 21 of 30 first-place votes.

Category	Baldwin’s 2025 Rookie Stat	Rookie Rank / Significance
RBIs	80	Led all NL rookies (min. 100 games) and ranked 4th among all MLB catchers.
Home Runs	19	Second among qualified NL rookies.
Batting Average	.274	Led all NL rookies (min. 100 games).
Historical Mark	NL Catcher	First NL catcher to win the award since Buster Posey in 2010.

The Leadership Factor: Beyond the plate, Baldwin drew praise from the pitching staff and manager Brian Snitker for his maturity and handling of the rotation, a crucial aspect of the Braves’ season even during an otherwise disappointing team performance. His ability to hit for average and power while navigating a staff on the fly cemented the confidence of the voters that he is a franchise-building block for the long haul.

The Future is Now

Both Kurtz and Baldwin represent a major win for their respective franchises under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement’s Prospect Promotion Incentive. As top-ranked prospects, their award victories guarantee their teams an extra selection in the next amateur draft, proving that promoting young talent early pays dividends on and off the field.

These two Rookies of the Year are not just great young players; they are the future cornerstones of the sport.