Kurtz And Baldwin Win Al And Nl Rookie Of The Year Honors

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 17, 2025, 5:37 PM

kurtz and baldwin win al and nl rookie of the year honors

Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz waits for the pitch during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall, file) Atlanta Braves’ Drake Baldwin (30) celebrates Marcell Ozuna (20) in the second inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, file)

Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson dives by can’t reach a ball hit for a single by Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, file) Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Cade Horton (22) throws against the New York Mets during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, in Chicago.

(AP Photo/Erin Hooley, file) Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz was accompanied by a good friend as he joined one exclusive club on Monday night. Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz was a unanimous choice for American League Rookie of the Year, and Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin won the National League award. The 22-year-old Kurtz batted .290 with 36 homers, 86 RBIs and a 1.002 OPS in 117 games this year. The first baseman became the eighth rookie since 1901 to finish with an OPS over 1.000 while making at least 400 plate appearances. A’s teammate Jacob Wilson was second in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America that was announced on Monday night.

Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony was third. Baldwin, 24, stepped up for Atlanta after No. 1 catcher Sean Murphy was sidelined by a cracked rib in spring training. While Murphy was limited by injuries for much of the year, Baldwin hit .274 with 19 homers, 80 RBIs and an .810 OPS in 124 games. Baldwin’s win secured an extra selection for Atlanta after the first round in next year’s amateur draft under the collective bargaining agreement’s prospect promotion incentive. Major League Baseball kicked off its annual awards week festivities on Monday night by announcing the winners of the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year award in each league.

(The Manager of the Year awards will be handed out on Tuesday, the Cy Young awards on Wednesday, and the Most Valuable Players on Thursday.) These awards are voted on by 30 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America (that's two per MLB city in each league). Votes were submitted before the beginning of the playoffs, meaning that only regular-season contributions are taken into account. Here are MLB's 2025 Rookie of the Year award recipients. Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz took home the honors in the American League, topping teammate and Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson and Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony. He is the 14th AL player to win the award unanimously and the second A's player, joining Mark McGwire (1987).

Kurtz is the first Athletics player to win Rookie of the Year since closer Andrew Bailey in 2009. He's the first position player to do it since shortstop Bobby Crosby in 2004. Overall, Kurtz is the ninth Athletics player to ever claim the award, though that accounting includes the franchise's time in Philadelphia and Oakland. Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz was accompanied by a good friend as he joined one exclusive club on Monday night. Kurtz was a unanimous choice for American League Rookie of the Year, and Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin won the National League award. “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.” The 22-year-old Kurtz is the 14th unanimous selection for the AL honor and the second from the A’s franchise, joining Mark McGwire in 1987. Finishing right behind Kurtz was A’s teammate Jacob Wilson, and Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony was third. It was the fifth time in the AL and ninth time overall that teammates finished in the top two spots in Rookie of the Year balloting. The last time it happened in the AL was the Mariners’ Alvin Davis and Mark Langston in 1984. Oakland’s first baseman Nick Kurtz was named the American League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year unanimously.

He said, “It’s a great honor that I’m going to be put up with some of baseball’s greats who won the award,” as reported by Associated Press. In the National League, Braves catcher Drake Baldwin won the Rookie of the Year award. The 22-year-old Kurtz became the youngest player to hit four home runs in a single game and was unanimously selected Rookie of the Year, according to Baseball Writers' Association of America. His teammate Jacob Wilson finished second in voting. Kurtz batted .290 with 36 home runs, and the Athletics now have their ninth Rookie of the Year award, marking the Kurtz-Wilson one-two punch in the team’s roster. Drake Baldwin had an .810 OPS and 80 RBIs in 124 games, earning Rookie of the Year as the seventh catcher and tenth Braves player to win the award.

He 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,” as per Associated Press. Baldwin and Kurtz will each receive $750,000 from a pre-arbitration bonus pool, with additional benefits for draft picks and service time. The Manager of the Year awards will be announced next. Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz is the unanimous winner of the American League Rookie of the Year, and Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin is the winner of the National League honour. The 22-year-old Kurtz batted .290 with 36 homers, 86 RBIs and a 1.002 OPS in 117 games this year.

The first baseman became the eighth rookie since 1901 to finish with an OPS over 1.000 while making at least 400 plate appearances. A’s teammate Jacob Wilson was second in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America that was announced Monday night. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony was third. Baldwin, 24, stepped up for Atlanta after No. 1 catcher Sean Murphy was sidelined by a cracked rib in spring training. While Murphy was limited by injuries for much of the year, Baldwin hit .274 with 19 homers, 80 RBIs and an .810 OPS in 124 games.

Baldwin’s win secured an extra selection for Atlanta after the first round in next year’s amateur draft under the collective bargaining agreement’s prospect promotion incentive. Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz and Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin are the 2025 MLB Rookies of the Year. They had the best seasons of hundreds of first-year players – though Justin Dean made the most improbable headlines. The award in each league is named after Jackie Robinson, the first rookie winner in 1947. Kurtz won in the American League following one of the best MLB rookie seasons ever. After only 32 games in the minors, the fourth overall pick in the 2024 Draft out of Wake Forest led all rookies in home runs (36), RBIs (86), extra-base hits (64), runs (90), slugging...

On July 25 in Houston, he had one of the greatest performances in history, going 6-for-6 with four homers against the Astros. He became the first rookie with a four-homer game and only the 20th player overall. National League winner Baldwin batted .274 -- second among NL rookies -- with 19 homers. The 24-year-old handled the experienced Braves staff, gaining their confidence by adeptly blocking pitches in the dirt

Kurtz And Baldwin Win Al And Nl Rookie Of The Year Honors

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