2025 MLB Awards: Kurtz and Baldwin Highlight Rookie Achievements

LAS VEGAS — Major League Baseball announced the winners of the 2025 Rookie of the Year awards on Monday night, with first baseman Nick Kurtz of the Oakland Athletics unanimously chosen in the American League and catcher Drake Baldwin of the Atlanta Braves taking the National League honor.

Kurtz, 22, received all 30 first-place votes after a standout season in which he batted .290 with 36 home runs and 86 RBIs. His 1.002 OPS ranked third in MLB, despite being called up in late April. Kurtz achieved historical significance on July 25 when he hit four home runs in a single game against the Houston Astros, becoming just the 20th player in Major League history to do so.

“It’s a great ending to the first year,” Kurtz said in an interview with MLB Network. “I’m going to use this and keep on grinding to come out better next year.”

His teammate, Jacob Wilson, finished second in the voting and earned 23 second-place votes. Only twelve other American League players received votes, including pitcher Tarik Skubal and shortstop Anthony Volpe, who came in fourth and fifth respectively.

<p“It's really cool to see 30 votes for me. It was pretty remarkable. I'm happy about that and proud of it,” Kurtz added.

In the National League, Baldwin, 24, edged Cade Horton of the Chicago Cubs by finishing with 21 first-place votes compared to nine for Horton. Baldwin concluded his rookie season with a .274 batting average, 19 home runs, a .341 on-base percentage, and 80 RBIs over 124 games, marking a historic achievement as he ranked first in OPS among rookie catchers.

<p“I had no idea it would turn out like this. There were polls suggesting it looked more like Horton would win,” Baldwin said during his conference call. “But I was going in with an open mind, realizing how cool it was to be a finalist.”

Ten other National League players received votes, including outfielder Joey Wiemer of the Milwaukee Brewers and Michael Harris of the Braves, who ranked fourth and fifth respectively.

Both Kurtz and Baldwin secured full years of service time due to their awards, adding to their growing legacies as young stars in baseball.