As the 2025 MLB season reaches its final month, there has been plenty of talk about the race for MVP in each league. But one contest that has become more interesting as the season has gone along is the race for Rookie of the Year. Defined by their young age and their speed in getting to the big leagues, not only is this year’s rookie class talented, but also there’s plenty of superstar potential in the group.
There’s also a lot of depth in the 2025 rookie class. Marlins catcher Agustín Ramirez, Astros outfielder Cam Smith, Red Sox catcher Carlos Narvaez, Brewers outfielder Isaac Collins and others have begun to make names for themselves this season.
But a few rookies have been a cut above and are now the leading candidates to take home some hardware in their first big-league season. Let’s take a look.
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Roman Anthony, OF, Boston Red Sox
No rookie has impacted his team’s postseason chances as much as Red Sox breakout sensation Roman Anthony. Anthony, MLB’s No. 1 prospect coming into the season, already had high expectations at the age of 21. But once the Red Sox moved on from Rafael Devers, they wasted no time pivoting to their superstar of the future. After debuting on June 9, the rookie outfielder slowly got acclimated to his new life in the big leagues, but as he has found his footing, his production has skyrocketed.
Since July 18, Anthony has a robust .306/.420/.492 slash line with four homers. As Boston’s new leadoff hitter, he has been able to thrive while setting the table for the Red Sox’s lineup.
The biggest thing that has stood out in Anthony’s rookie season is his command of the strike zone. Not many players in baseball ever flirt with a .400 on-base percentage, yet the rookie outfielder is doing just that in his first year, showing that his command of the zone is advanced beyond his years. It’s one of the things that has made him a perfect fit for manager Alex Cora at the top of the lineup.
Anthony has a real chance to be a superstar in this sport, which is one of the reasons the Red Sox gave him an eight-year, $130 million contract extension. If Boston makes a run in the postseason, Anthony will likely be a major reason behind their success.
Cade Horton, RHP, Chicago Cubs
It has been a tale of two seasons for Cubs right-hander Cade Horton. Chicago’s hard-throwing rookie had his fair share of ups and downs after arriving in the big leagues in May. But once he had a chance to catch his breath at the All-Star break, Horton returned to the Cubs’ rotation as a different pitcher.
Over the past two months, and particularly in the month of August, the Cubs’ rookie has pitched his way into being the front-runner for the NL Rookie of the Year Award. Horton has been the best starter in baseball in the second half, with his 0.49 ERA the lowest in the game in that span. He has allowed very few baserunners in the second half, with a .784 WHIP, and even when runners have reached, they’ve rarely scored, as Horton has left 97.9% of runners on base, which also leads MLB.
The pitch that has helped the Cubs’ rookie thrive lately has been his four-seam fastball, which has a .136 batting average against in the month of August. Horton having full command of his fastball then allows his sweeper, which has also been good (.150 BAA), to be even more effective.
Starting pitching has been the biggest question for the Cubs in 2025, but so far in the second half, they’ve answered that. Along the way, Horton has put himself in the conversation for NL Rookie of the Year, and he might very well be the Cubs’ best starting pitcher once the postseason arrives.
Drake Baldwin, C, Atlanta Braves
Of all the players in baseball who have been talked about as candidates for Rookie of the Year, few had less hype around them coming into this season than Braves’ catcher Drake Baldwin. Baldwin made Atlanta’s roster out of spring training only because of an injury to Sean Murphy. But once the season began, he quickly showed that he was more than capable of being an every-day option behind the plate.
Baldwin’s best attribute has always been his bat, which helped him move quickly through Atlanta’s farm system. And as a catcher who can swing it, Baldwin’s offensive prowess has allowed him to stand out in the big leagues. Atlanta’s catcher ranks second among all rookies in RBI, fourth in OPS and fourth in home runs.
It was Murphy who was supposed to get the lion’s share of time behind the plate for the Braves in 2025. But Baldwin’s arrival and production in the veteran’s absence forced Atlanta to find a permanent place for the 2022 third-rounder, and now he looks to be the Braves’ catcher of both the present and the future.
Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics
It’s not often that a player becomes his team’s best hitter less than a year after being drafted, but that’s exactly what Nick Kurtz has done. After flying through the Athletics’ farm system, the 2024 first-round pick made his way onto the big-league roster in April and burst onto the scene. Kurtz really made his presence known with a four-homer game against the Houston Astros in July, but even before then, the A’s first baseman was slugging his way into the Rookie of the Year race.
When it comes to Kurtz, the power is what stands out, with his homers routinely going a country mile. But even as a young player, he has shown an aptitude for hitting at a high level. Since the All-Star break, Kurtz has a ridiculous .390/.500/.764 slash line with 10 homers, and his 1.264 OPS is an MLB-best over that stretch. Kurtz is also leading rookies in almost every offensive category this season, including OPS, homers, RBI, runs scored, walks and slugging percentage.
The A’s as a whole have disappointed this season, but in a year of strong rookie performances, Kurtz has easily been baseball’s best. And he has shown he’ll be a force in the middle of the A’s lineup for years to come.
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