Drake Baldwin Wins 2025 NL Rookie of the Year

By JJ Misiewicz

Drake Baldwin, the 2025 NL Rookie of the Year

Photo by Brett Davis/Getty Images

November 10, 2025

Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin won 2025 National League Rookie of the Year on Monday. Baldwin secured 21 of the 30 first place votes. Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Cade Horton, the runner-up, received the final nine. Milwaukee Brewers Caleb Durbin and Isaac Collins finished third and fourth, respectively.

Baldwin’s 2025 Season

Baldwin, due to Sean Murphy starting the year on the Injured List, was thrust into the starting catcher role on opening day. Baldwin excelled, as his lowest full month OPS-wise was .741 in the month of June.

The 2022 third-round pick out of Missouri State finished with 19 home runs and 80 RBI. His slash line on the year was .274/.341/.469 for an .810 OPS and a 126 OPS+.

Baldwin ranked first in average exit velocity among catchers according to Baseball Savant. He also ranked in the 91st percentile in bat speed and 85th percentile in hard-hit percentage.

Past Braves Winners

Baldwin is the second Braves catcher to win Rookie of the Year, joining Earl Williams, who won the award in 1971. He is also the third Brave in the last decade to win the award, joining Ronald Acuña Jr. (2018) and Michael Harris II (2022), and 10th Brave overall. The Braves are also the third franchise to have double-digit Rookie of the Year winners. They are tied with the New York Yankees for second-most winners (10) behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (18).

Past Catcher Winners

Only 10 catchers have won Rookie of the Year since the award’s inception in 1947. The first was Hall of Famer Johnny Bench in 1968, and the last before Baldwin was Buster Posey in 2010. Other notable names include Hall of Famers Mike Piazza (1993) and Carlton Fisk (1972).

Scoring System

For the first time in history of the award, voters submitted five names instead of three. It had been three names from 1980 to 2024. According to the BBWAA, first place votes were worth seven points, while second place votes were worth four. Third place was worth three points, fourth was two points, and fifth was one point.