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, 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 Narváez, Brewers outfielder Isaac Collins and others have begun to make names for themselves this season.
Advertisement
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.
[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]
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, 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 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.
Advertisement
Since July 18, Anthony has a robust .306/.420/.492 slash line with four homers. As Boston’s new leadoff hitter, he has thrived 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 atop of the lineup.
Anthony has a 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 its 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.
Advertisement
Over the past two months, particularly in August, he 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 them 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 August. Horton having full command of his fastball 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.
Will Nick Kurtz of the A’s or Roman Anthony of the Red Sox take home the AL Rookie of the Year award? (Hassan Ahmad/Yahoo Sports)
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. He 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.
Advertisement
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.
Murphy 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 the present and 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 draft 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.
Advertisement
Kurtz’s power 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.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
FC Porto anuncia Pablo Rosario. Médio chega aos dragões a preço de saldo: por menos de 4M€
Ex-Nice ©IMAGO O FC Porto oficializou, nesta quinta-feira, a contratação de Pablo Rosario, médio dominicano de 28 anos que assinou um contrato válido para as próximas quatro temporadas, isto é, até junho de 2029.Para tirá-lo dos franceses do Nice, o emblema da Invicta desembolsou apenas 3,75 milhões de euros, assegurando a transferência por um autêntico preço de saldo - o próprio valor de mercado do jogador é de 8 milhões de euros, mais do dobro da quantia investida pelos dragões na sua contratação.Rosario estava em França desde o verão de 2021, quando o Nice o contratou ao PSV Eindhoven, dos Países Baixos, por 6 milhões de euros. Pelo emblema gaulês, cumpriu um total de 149 jogos oficiais - foi o clube que mais vezes representou na carreira - nos quais apontou quatro golos e realizou seis assistências.
2026 NFL Draft Summer Scouting: Quarterback Overview
Texas star Arch Manning headlines the group: Ahead of his first full season as a starter, Manning boasts great accuracy and mobility. LaNorris Sellers needs refinement: The South Carolina standout must better read zone coverages to evolve as a passer. The 2025 college football season has just begun, but it's never too early to break down prospects for next spring's draft class. PFF Lead NFL Draft Analyst Trevor Sikkema offers his breakdowns for 25 quarterback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, from Arch Manning to Cade Klubnik to Fernando Mendoza and more. Arch Manning, Texas Strengths Average height and weight for an NFL quarterback Fundamentally sound quarterback for his age Holds the ball securely while scanning the field to avoid fumbles Excellent natural accuracy, even on throws beyond 40–50 yards Above-average mobility and effective when throwing on the run Steady […]
London & The South look to seal Racing League title at Southwell
Matt Chapman's London & The South are closing in on Racing League glory as the competition heads to Southwell for its final week - live on Sky Sports Racing.6.45 Southwell - City Captain bids for hat-trickHarriet Bethell saddles progressive gelding City Captain (Wales & The West) in his bid to record a fourth win this year from five runs - and a first career hattrick. After being gelded at the end of his two-year-old career and switching to Bethell's yard, the gelding has been in fantastic form and goes off a rating 14lbs higher than when he arrived at his new stable. There is also several others seeking consecutive wins having won last time out with Fierce being one of these for Paul Midgley. Having switched stables in the winter, the gelding has record two wins from six starts for […]
F1 predictions: Who will win the title? Will Hamilton get a podium?
As Formula 1 returns for what promises to be a thrilling finale to the 2025 season, the Sky Sports digital team predict what will happen over the final 10 races. After three weekends off, the season resumes live on Sky Sports F1 with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, with many plots still to play out. Top of the bill is the Drivers' Championship title battle between the dominant McLarens, with Oscar Piastri leading Lando Norris by just nine points.Beyond that, intrigue remains around whether Lewis Hamilton can turn around his disappointing start to life at Ferrari, while Max Verstappen's long-term future remains up in the air with Red Bull struggling before the summer break.Before the action resumes with first practice in Zandvoort on Friday, Sky Sports digital journalists James Galloway, Sam Johnston and Nigel Chiu share their predictions for […]
Dorival Júnior barra euforia da torcida do Corinthians com Gui Negão e base: “Temos que ter cuidado”
Dorival Júnior em ação pelo Corinthians. (Foto: Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images)O Corinthians venceu o Athletico por 1 a 0 e abriu boa vantagem na Copa do Brasil. Assim, o gol de Gui Negão, atacante de 18 anos, da base, resolveu os problemas do Timão. Foi o terceiro jogo seguido que ele balançou as redes. No entanto, Dorival Júnior fez questão de barrar a euforia da torcida com ele, e com outros atletas da base, pedindo calma. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEDorival Júnior elogiou Gui Negão, que vive um momento iluminado na temporada, com 3 gols em 3 jogos. No entanto, fez questão de pedir calma à torcida do Corinthians com o garoto de 18 anos, e disse que espera uma evolução natural.“O trabalho que ele vem desenvolvendo e executando, a entrega, o comprometimento, se dedicando ao máximo, combatendo, buscando espaços, atacando adversário. Isso tem […]
Dorival Júnior barra euforia da torcida do Corinthians com Gui Negão e base: “Temos que ter cuidado”
Dorival Júnior em ação pelo Corinthians. (Foto: Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images)O Corinthians venceu o Athletico por 1 a 0 e abriu boa vantagem na Copa do Brasil. Assim, o gol de Gui Negão, atacante de 18 anos, da base, resolveu os problemas do Timão. Foi o terceiro jogo seguido que ele balançou as redes. No entanto, Dorival Júnior fez questão de barrar a euforia da torcida com ele, e com outros atletas da base, pedindo calma. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEDorival Júnior elogiou Gui Negão, que vive um momento iluminado na temporada, com 3 gols em 3 jogos. No entanto, fez questão de pedir calma à torcida do Corinthians com o garoto de 18 anos, e disse que espera uma evolução natural.“O trabalho que ele vem desenvolvendo e executando, a entrega, o comprometimento, se dedicando ao máximo, combatendo, buscando espaços, atacando adversário. Isso tem […]
Related
FC Porto anuncia Pablo Rosario. Médio chega aos dragões a preço de saldo: por menos de 4M€
Ex-Nice ©IMAGO O FC Porto oficializou, nesta quinta-feira, a contratação de Pablo Rosario, médio dominicano de 28 anos que assinou um contrato válido para as próximas quatro temporadas, isto é, até junho de 2029.Para tirá-lo dos franceses do Nice, o emblema da Invicta desembolsou apenas 3,75 milhões de euros, assegurando a transferência por um autêntico preço de saldo - o próprio valor de mercado do jogador é de 8 milhões de euros, mais do dobro da quantia investida pelos dragões na sua contratação.Rosario estava em França desde o verão de 2021, quando o Nice o contratou ao PSV Eindhoven, dos Países Baixos, por 6 milhões de euros. Pelo emblema gaulês, cumpriu um total de 149 jogos oficiais - foi o clube que mais vezes representou na carreira - nos quais apontou quatro golos e realizou seis assistências.
2026 NFL Draft Summer Scouting: Quarterback Overview
Texas star Arch Manning headlines the group: Ahead of his first full season as a starter, Manning boasts great accuracy and mobility. LaNorris Sellers needs refinement: The South Carolina standout must better read zone coverages to evolve as a passer. The 2025 college football season has just begun, but it's never too early to break down prospects for next spring's draft class. PFF Lead NFL Draft Analyst Trevor Sikkema offers his breakdowns for 25 quarterback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, from Arch Manning to Cade Klubnik to Fernando Mendoza and more. Arch Manning, Texas Strengths Average height and weight for an NFL quarterback Fundamentally sound quarterback for his age Holds the ball securely while scanning the field to avoid fumbles Excellent natural accuracy, even on throws beyond 40–50 yards Above-average mobility and effective when throwing on the run Steady […]
F1 predictions: Who will win the title? Will Hamilton get a podium?
As Formula 1 returns for what promises to be a thrilling finale to the 2025 season, the Sky Sports digital team predict what will happen over the final 10 races. After three weekends off, the season resumes live on Sky Sports F1 with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, with many plots still to play out. Top of the bill is the Drivers' Championship title battle between the dominant McLarens, with Oscar Piastri leading Lando Norris by just nine points.Beyond that, intrigue remains around whether Lewis Hamilton can turn around his disappointing start to life at Ferrari, while Max Verstappen's long-term future remains up in the air with Red Bull struggling before the summer break.Before the action resumes with first practice in Zandvoort on Friday, Sky Sports digital journalists James Galloway, Sam Johnston and Nigel Chiu share their predictions for […]
London & The South look to seal Racing League title at Southwell
Matt Chapman's London & The South are closing in on Racing League glory as the competition heads to Southwell for its final week - live on Sky Sports Racing.6.45 Southwell - City Captain bids for hat-trickHarriet Bethell saddles progressive gelding City Captain (Wales & The West) in his bid to record a fourth win this year from five runs - and a first career hattrick. After being gelded at the end of his two-year-old career and switching to Bethell's yard, the gelding has been in fantastic form and goes off a rating 14lbs higher than when he arrived at his new stable. There is also several others seeking consecutive wins having won last time out with Fierce being one of these for Paul Midgley. Having switched stables in the winter, the gelding has record two wins from six starts for […]
Dorival Júnior barra euforia da torcida do Corinthians com Gui Negão e base: “Temos que ter cuidado”
Dorival Júnior em ação pelo Corinthians. (Foto: Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images)O Corinthians venceu o Athletico por 1 a 0 e abriu boa vantagem na Copa do Brasil. Assim, o gol de Gui Negão, atacante de 18 anos, da base, resolveu os problemas do Timão. Foi o terceiro jogo seguido que ele balançou as redes. No entanto, Dorival Júnior fez questão de barrar a euforia da torcida com ele, e com outros atletas da base, pedindo calma. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEDorival Júnior elogiou Gui Negão, que vive um momento iluminado na temporada, com 3 gols em 3 jogos. No entanto, fez questão de pedir calma à torcida do Corinthians com o garoto de 18 anos, e disse que espera uma evolução natural.“O trabalho que ele vem desenvolvendo e executando, a entrega, o comprometimento, se dedicando ao máximo, combatendo, buscando espaços, atacando adversário. Isso tem […]
Dorival Júnior barra euforia da torcida do Corinthians com Gui Negão e base: “Temos que ter cuidado”
Dorival Júnior em ação pelo Corinthians. (Foto: Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images)O Corinthians venceu o Athletico por 1 a 0 e abriu boa vantagem na Copa do Brasil. Assim, o gol de Gui Negão, atacante de 18 anos, da base, resolveu os problemas do Timão. Foi o terceiro jogo seguido que ele balançou as redes. No entanto, Dorival Júnior fez questão de barrar a euforia da torcida com ele, e com outros atletas da base, pedindo calma. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEDorival Júnior elogiou Gui Negão, que vive um momento iluminado na temporada, com 3 gols em 3 jogos. No entanto, fez questão de pedir calma à torcida do Corinthians com o garoto de 18 anos, e disse que espera uma evolução natural.“O trabalho que ele vem desenvolvendo e executando, a entrega, o comprometimento, se dedicando ao máximo, combatendo, buscando espaços, atacando adversário. Isso tem […]
Be the first to leave a comment