**Nick Kurtz and Drake Baldwin Named 2025 MLB Rookies of the Year**
Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz and Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin have been honored as the 2025 MLB Rookies of the Year. Outshining hundreds of first-year players, these two rookies had outstanding seasons, though Justin Dean captured some of the most improbable headlines.
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### The Jackie Robinson Award
Each league’s Rookie of the Year award is named after Jackie Robinson, the first rookie to win the accolade back in 1947. This year, Kurtz took home the American League (AL) honor following one of the best rookie performances in MLB history.
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### Nick Kurtz’s Historic Rookie Season
After playing only 32 games in the minors, Nick Kurtz, the fourth overall pick in the 2024 Draft out of Wake Forest, led all rookies with eye-popping numbers. He hit 36 home runs, drove in 86 runs (RBIs), amassed 64 extra-base hits, scored 90 runs, and posted a slugging percentage of .619 alongside a remarkable OPS of 1.002.
One of the crowning moments of his rookie year came on July 25 in Houston, where Kurtz delivered one of the greatest single-game performances ever by going 6-for-6 with four home runs against the Astros. He became the first rookie in MLB history to hit four homers in a single game and only the 20th player overall to do so.
Kurtz also became the 14th unanimous winner of the AL Rookie of the Year award.
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### Drake Baldwin’s Strong National League Debut
The National League (NL) winner, Drake Baldwin, batted .274 — second among NL rookies — alongside 19 homers. The 24-year-old catcher adeptly handled the experienced Braves pitching staff, earning their confidence with his skillful pitch-blocking.
Baldwin became the seventh catcher ever to win the award and the first since Buster Posey in 2010. A third-round pick in 2022 from Missouri State, Baldwin’s solid defensive skills and steady bat contributed greatly to the Atlanta Braves’ success.
The NL has had 13 unanimous Rookie of the Year winners to date.
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### Justin Dean: The Hitless Wonder
Justin Dean represents the unpredictable nature of sports like few others. Although he didn’t register a hit all season, he played a pivotal role in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series run — creating some of the most head-scratching yet crucial moments.
In Game 6 of the World Series, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts substituted Dean in for defense during the ninth inning to help protect a 3-1 lead. With a Toronto runner on first, Blue Jays slugger Addison Barger crushed a ball deep to left-center field that wedged itself at the base of the padded fence.
Dean raised his hands to signal the ball was unplayable, which umpires confirmed. This call prevented speedy Myles Straw from scoring easily, awarding Barger a double instead of a potential RBI triple — a pivotal moment that helped the Dodgers escape a high-pressure jam.
Dean explained after the game, “I was just trusting the rule and help it, trusting that the ball fit the description… It’s something you are taught from an early age — if you see this, throw your hands up.”
The next night, Dean again appeared in the ninth inning as the Dodgers held on to win Game 7 and clinch the World Series championship. It was his 13th postseason appearance — all on defense.
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### Dean’s MLB Debut and Minor League Journey
Dean made his MLB debut on August 8 against the Blue Jays, playing defense in a 5-1 regular-season win. He appeared in a total of 18 games and batted only twice, striking out once and grounding out once.
Previously, Dean spent time in the minors—mainly within the Atlanta Braves’ system—playing 689 games with a .252 batting average, 239 RBIs, and 239 stolen bases.
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### The 2025 Rookies Ready for 2026 Impact
A total of 447 MLB players held rookie status in 2025, including 274 pitchers. Of these, 242 made their MLB debuts during the year, with 143 being pitchers.
Several talented 2025 rookies are expected to take center stage in 2026 and beyond:
**Catchers:** Moises Ballesteros (Cubs), Carter Jensen (Royals), Carlos Narvaez (Red Sox), Edgar Quero and Kyle Teel (White Sox), Augustin Ramirez (Marlins).
**Infielders:** Caleb Durbin (Brewers), Luke Keaschall (Twins), Hyseong Kim (Dodgers), Coby Mayo (Orioles), Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth (White Sox), Javier Sanoja (Marlins), Matt Shaw (Cubs), Cam Smith (Astros), Eric Wagaman (Rays), Jacob Wilson (Athletics).
**Outfielders:** Roman Anthony (Red Sox), Isaac Collins (Brewers), Dylan Crews and Daylen Lile (Nationals), Heriberto Hernandez and Jakob Marsee (Marlins), Jake Mangum and Chandler Simpson (Rays).
**Pitchers:** Chase Burns (Reds), Noah Cameron (Royals), Joey Cantillo (Guardians), Bubba Chandler (Pirates), Logan Henderson and Jacob Misoriowski (Brewers), Cade Horton (Cubs), Jack Leiter (Rangers), Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong (Mets), Trey Melton (Tigers), Cam Schlittler (Yankees), Shane Smith and Mike Vasil (White Sox), Matt Svanson (Cardinals), Justin Wrobleski (Dodgers), Trey Yesavage and Braydon Fisher (Blue Jays).
Remember these names—they all showed enough promise in 2025 to be key contributors for their teams moving forward.
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### Trey Yesavage: Rookie Postseason Star
Trey Yesavage, 22, remains eligible for the 2026 AL Rookie of the Year Award despite shining in the 2025 postseason. The right-handed pitcher made his MLB debut for the Toronto Blue Jays on September 15, becoming the 23,606th player in MLB history.
Yesavage earned his first major league win on September 27 against the Tampa Bay Rays. His playoff debut was spectacular on October 5 against the New York Yankees, pitching 5 1/3 hitless, scoreless innings with one walk and 11 strikeouts.
Overall, he posted a 3-1 postseason record with 39 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings.
A first-round pick (20th overall) in the 2024 MLB Draft, Yesavage signed for a $4.175 million bonus and is well on his way to a lucrative career.
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### Looking Ahead: The Future of MLB Rookies of the Year
Nick Kurtz and Cade Horton, both first-round picks, surpassed expectations and are primed for MLB stardom.
Meanwhile, Justin Dean was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants on November 6. His future remains uncertain, but he is eligible for the 2026 Rookie of the Year Award if he can prove his hitting ability during spring training at age 29.
Dean’s story echoes that of Gonzalo Marquez, a 32-year-old rookie who made a splash in the 1972 postseason with a .625 batting average as a pinch hitter for the World Series champion Oakland A’s. Marquez played until 1974 in the majors and continued in the Mexican League before passing away in 1984 at age 44.
Whether Dean can forge a similar late-blooming greatness or fade into obscurity remains to be seen. As Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever.”
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*Stay tuned to see how these promising rookies shape the future of Major League Baseball.*
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