Following a climactic seven game World Series thriller, the 2025 MLB season is over, and it’s time for standout players from this year to receive their flowers via the MLB Awards.
So far, the Rookie and the Manager of the Year awards have been announced, as well as the Gold Gloves, Silver Sluggers and the Roberto Clemente awards. The Cy Young will be awarded later today at 4 p.m PST, and the MVP tomorrow, November 13 at 4 p.m PST. As we eagerly await these announcements, let’s reflect on the ones already given.
Rookie of the Year: American League
The pick for this year’s American League Rookie of the Year wasn’t a surprise to anyone; Oakland Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz. Kurtz was unanimously selected for the reward and it is clear to see why. In his 117 games, he recorded 36 home runs, 86 RBIs and scored 90 runs, more than any other rookie. He also ended the season with a .290 batting average as well as a .619 SLG, proving an instant impact for the offense.
Kurtz’s performance this season was akin to a seasoned veteran, demonstrating the young 22-year-old’s potential.
Rookie of the Year: National League
Atlanta Braves’ Catcher Drake Baldwin took home this year’s National League Rookie of the Year, making Atlanta one of three teams with double digit Rookie of the Year awards. Baldwin, although not unanimous, received 21 of the 30 votes, and is only the 10th ever catcher to win the award.
Baldwin was the one of the best offensive rookies this season, being second in batting average amongst rookies with .274, home runs with 19, RBIs with 80 and OPS with .810.
It isn’t just offense that got him the award, it was also his ability to block as a catcher. Baldwin was ranked as No. 6 in the MLB among catchers in blocks above average with seven. His ability to contend with the league’s best as a rookie is impressive, and the clear separator for why Baldwin received this honor.
American League Manager of the Year
Stephen Vogt was a clear selection for manager of the year in the AL due to the Cleveland Guardians’ historic season turnaround after being 15 and a half games back in early July. This is Vogt’s second year as a manager and second time winning the award.
National League Manager of the Year
In the National League, Milwaukee Brewers Pat Murphy also wins the award once again. This was deserved, as not many people had the Brewers contending this year, and they ended with the best record in the MLB at 97-65.
Cy Young Predictions
When looking at the odds, there is not much room for a hot take when it comes to the Cy Young winner in either league. Paul Skenes is -50000 to win it in the NL, and Tarik Skubal is -20000 to win it in the AL. While the second favorites, Garrett Crochet +1200 in the AL and Cristopher Sanchez +1400 in the NL both had extraordinary seasons, I don’t see the voters going for the upset in this category because of the dominance of Skenes and Skubal
MVP Predictions
Although the NL is expecting a repeat MVP with Shohei Ohtani having another stellar season, the AL is not so clear cut. It’s a razor-thin two man race between reigning AL MVP, New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge, and Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh.
Raleigh finished the regular season with the most home runs and the single season record for a catcher and a switch hitter with 60, and finished third in RBIs with 135. Judge had the much stronger offensive season as a whole and won the batting title, being first in the league in batting average at .331 and OPS at 1.144.
Both players deserve the award and were equally impressive, but although Judge has the better odds (-330 vs +250), it should go to Raleigh, due to his effectiveness on offense while playing potentially the most demanding defensive position in baseball, Not to mention he’s been in the league half the time as Judge, and is already challenging him for the MVP. Either way, this will not be the last time we see either of them in MVP talks, and whoever doesn’t win this year will no doubt be in the conversation for a repeat next season.