Ranking the Top 50 MLB Rookies of 2025 Season

The 2025 MLB rookie class might not have taken shape as expected, with many of the preseason Rookie of the Year favorites falling short of making a major impact, but this year's class of newcomers still gave us plenty of impact talent.

Slugger Nick Kurtz (ATH) should run away with AL Rookie of the Year honors after Roman Anthony (BOS) missed time to injury, while the NL Rookie of the Year race is more open with right-hander Cade Horton (CHC) and catcher Drake Baldwin (ATL) viewed as the front-runners.

However, there are plenty of other rookies worth talking about beyond that upper echelon, and ahead we've ranked the top 50 rookies of the 2025 campaign.

Players are ranked based on their individual production, role with their team, and how they developed as the season progressed. In other words, a strong finish to the year carried more weight than a strong start that ended in steady regression.

50. OF Jeremiah Jackson, Baltimore Orioles (Age: 25)

Stats: 48 G, 117 wRC+, .276/.328/.447, 17 XBH (5 HR), 0 SB
WAR: 0.8

The O's signed Jackson as a minor league free agent during the offseason. He hit .313/.343/.537 with 31 doubles and 15 home runs over 85 games in the upper minors before making his MLB debut on Aug. 1 following the team's trade deadline sell-off. With some playable power and the ability to handle third base and corner outfield, he could be a useful bench piece in 2026.

49. RP Riley O'Brien, St. Louis Cardinals (Age: 30)

Stats: 42 G, 6 SV, 2.06 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 8.4 K/9, 48.0 IP
WAR: 0.3

O'Brien moved into a late-inning role after Ryan Helsley and Phil Maton were traded at the deadline, logging all six of his saves over the final two months of the season. Armed with a fastball that averaged 98.0 mph, a hard slider and a nasty curveball that generated a 50.7 percent whiff rate, he could get the first shot at closing games next year.

48. RP Braydon Fisher, Toronto Blue Jays (Age: 25)

Stats: 52 G, 5 HLD, 2.70 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 11.2 K/9, 50.0 IP
WAR: 0.8

The Blue Jays acquired Fisher as the return piece in the deal that sent Cavan Biggio to the Dodgers last summer, and he emerged as one of the more reliable middle relief arms on the staff this season. The southpaw limited lefties to a .149 average and .499 OPS in 87 plate appearances, though he was also effective against righties.

47. UT Javier Sanoja, Miami Marlins (Age: 23)

Stats: 120 G, 86 wRC+, .243/.287/.396, 32 XBH (6 HR), 6 SB
WAR: 0.7

Sanoja started multiple games at third base (26), second base (20), left field (16), center field (10) and shortstop (9), giving the Marlins a versatile bench piece as they tried to sort out roles on a young roster. He was the ninth-youngest player to break camp with an Opening Day roster spot in 2025.

46. RP Isaac Mattson, Pittsburgh Pirates (Age: 30)

Stats: 44 G, 12 HLD, 2.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 47.2 IP
WAR: 0.6

A 19th-round pick by the Angels in 2017 out of the University of Pittsburgh, Mattson also spent time in the Orioles and Twins organizations before landing back home with the Pirates. He stepped into more of a high-leverage role after David Bednar was traded at the deadline, logging nine holds over the final two months.

45. RP Justin Sterner, Athletics (Age: 29)

Stats: 59 G, 16 HLD, 3.18 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 9.7 K/9, 65.0 IP
WAR: 0.3

The Athletics claimed Sterner off waivers from the Rays during the offseason, and after pitching his way onto the Opening Day roster, he rattled off 18 scoreless appearances spanning 18.2 innings to start the year. He ended up leading the team with 16 holds and should fill a key role in the bullpen again in 2026.

44. C/1B Liam Hicks, Miami Marlins (Age: 26)

Stats: 119 G, 98 wRC+, .247/.346/.346, 20 XBH (6 HR), 2 SB
WAR: 1.0

The Tigers acquired Hicks in the deal that sent Carson Kelly to the Rangers at the 2024 trade deadline, and five months later, he was selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Marlins. A .274 hitter with a .405 on-base percentage over 1,097 plate appearances in the minors, he had a productive offensive season while splitting his time between catcher (49 starts), first base (23 starts) and designated hitter (20 starts).

43. SP Sean Burke, Chicago White Sox (Age: 25)

Stats: 28 G, 22 GS, 4.29 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 63 BB, 133 K, 134.1 IP
WAR: 0.7

Burke had a 1.42 ERA in 19 innings as a September call-up in 2024, then earned a spot in the White Sox rotation this past spring. He logged seven quality starts while ranking sixth among rookie pitchers with 134.1 innings pitched, and he should at least be a useful innings eater while the South Siders continue to build back toward contention.

42. SP Michael McGreevy, St. Louis Cardinals (Age: 25)

Stats: 17 G, 16 GS, 4.42 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 20 BB, 58 K, 95.2 IP
WAR: 0.9

McGreevy lasted at least six innings in 10 of his 16 starts, and while a few ugly outings inflated his overall numbers, he looked the part of a potential long-term rotation piece as the Cardinals embrace a youth movement. The No. 18 overall pick in the 2021 draft could join Matthew Liberatore in anchoring a new-look rotation in St. Louis in 2026.

41. 2B/SS Chase Meidroth, Chicago White Sox (Age: 24)

Stats: 122 G, 87 wRC+, .253/.329/.320, 20 XBH (5 HR), 14 SB
WAR: 1.3

The "other" notable prospect acquired from the Red Sox in the Garrett Crochet blockbuster along with Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery, Meidroth tied for eighth among rookies with 114 hits. He manned shortstop before shifting over to second base after Colson Montgomery arrived, and he should at least carve out a role as a valuable utility infielder moving forward.

40. RP Ben Casparius, Los Angeles Dodgers (Age: 26)

Stats: 46 G, 13 HLD, 4.64 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 8.2 K/9, 77.2 IP
WAR: 1.3

Casparius made three appearances down the stretch in 2024 and ended up starting Game 4 of the World Series as a two-inning opener after earning a spot on the playoff roster. He served as a valuable workhorse out of the bullpen this season, recording more than three outs in 25 of his 46 appearances.

39. SP/RP Brad Lord, Washington Nationals (Age: 25)

Stats: 48 G, 19 GS, 4.34 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 43 BB, 103 K, 130.2 IP
WAR: 1.3

Lord finished fourth on the Washington roster with 130.2 innings pitched, spending much of the year in the bullpen before making a full-time move into the rotation at the end of July. He had a 2.79 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and seven holds in 29 appearances out of the bullpen, and he will be a valuable swingman going forward as the Nationals build out their pitching staff.

38. RP Mike Vasil, Chicago White Sox (Age: 25)

Stats: 47 G, 2 HLD, 2.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 7.3 K/9, 101.0 IP
WAR: 0.4

The Phillies selected Vasil out of the Mets organization in the Rule 5 draft, then sent him to the Rays later that day for cash considerations before he was claimed off waivers by the White Sox just before Opening Day. He eclipsed 100 innings pitched despite making only three starts, and one ugly start on June 19 (3.2 IP, 7 H, 6 ER) significantly inflated his overall numbers.

37. C/DH Agustín Ramírez, Miami Marlins (Age: 24)

Stats: 136 G, 91 wRC+, .231/.287/.413, 55 XBH (21 HR), 16 SB
WAR: 0.0

Ramírez led all NL rookies in hits (124), doubles (33), home runs (21) and runs scored (72), giving the Marlins an impact bat after he was acquired in the Jazz Chisholm Jr. deal last summer. However, he was arguably the worst defensive catcher in baseball (-14 DRS, 19 passed balls, 8-of-91 CS), and that significantly undercut his value. Expect him to eventually be an everyday designated hitter.

36. SP Jacob Misiorowski, Milwaukee Brewers (Age: 23)

Stats: 15 G, 14 GS, 4.36 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 31 BB, 87 K, 66.0 IP
WAR: 1.2

Misiorowski took the league by storm after making his MLB debut on June 12, posting a 2.81 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 25.2 innings over his first five starts to earn a surprise spot on the NL All-Star team. However, he struggled to a 5.36 ERA in 40.1 innings after the break, battling a left tibia contusion and some command issues before he was moved to the bullpen. The future is bright, but there are still steps he needs to take in his development.

35. OF Heriberto Hernández, Miami Marlins (Age: 25)

Stats: 87 G, 118 wRC+, .266/.347/.438, 23 XBH (10 HR), 1 SB
WAR: 1.3

Signed for $10,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2017, Hernández was traded from the Rangers to the Rays in the Nathaniel Lowe deal. He departed as a minor league free agent before making his MLB debut, and the Marlins signed him this past November. He had an .819 OPS over 92 plate appearances in September, and he should compete for a spot in the outfield next spring.

34. SP Ryan Bergert, San Diego Padres/Kansas City Royals (Age: 25)

Stats: 19 G, 15 GS, 3.66 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 35 BB, 73 K, 76.1 IP
WAR: 1.0

Bergert was traded from the Padres to the Royals at the deadline in exchange for catcher Freddy Fermin, and he immediately jumped into the Kansas City rotation. Over his first six starts with his new team, he logged a 2.43 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 33.1 innings, but he got shelled by the Guardians on Sept. 8 (3.1 IP, 11 H, 8 ER) and ended the season on the injured list with an elbow strain.

33. SP Parker Messick, Cleveland Guardians (Age: 24)

Stats: 7 GS, 2.72 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 6 BB, 38 K, 39.2 IP
WAR: 1.0

Messick fits the mold of pitchers the Guardians have done a great job developing in recent years with a polished overall game, plus command and high floor coming out of Florida State. He kicked off his MLB career with brilliant starts against the D-backs (6.2 IP, 7 H, 1 ER) and Rays (7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER), and he logged four quality starts in seven outings for a Cleveland squad chasing a playoff berth.

32. SP Hurston Waldrep, Atlanta Braves (Age: 23)

Stats: 10 G, 9 GS, 2.88 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 22 BB, 55 K, 56.1 IP
WAR: 1.2

Waldrep allowed 13 earned runs in seven innings over two spot starts in 2024, but returned to the majors a different pitcher in August. He posted a 1.33 ERA in 40.2 innings over his first 10 appearances, and aside from one clunker against the Astros (4.2 IP, 8 H, 8 ER), he was excellent. The Braves went 8-2 in his 10 appearances, and he should have a leg up for a rotation spot next spring.

31. SP Jacob Lopez, Athletics (Age: 27)

Stats: 21 G, 17 GS, 4.08 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 37 BB, 113 K, 92.2 IP
WAR: 1.2

Lopez was acquired from the Rays during the offseason as part of the Jeffrey Springs trade, and after spending the first two months of the season shuttling between the rotation, bullpen and Triple-A, he joined the rotation for good in early June. He had three quality starts in June and three quality starts in August, succeeding without elite velocity as his fastball averaged just 90.8 mph.

30. OF Chandler Simpson, Tampa Bay Rays (Age: 24)

Stats: 109 G, 88 wRC+, .295/.326/.345, 18 XBH (0 HR), 44 SB
WAR: 0.7

Simpson had 104 stolen bases in 110 games in the minors in 2024, and he has true top-of-the-scale speed. He tied for second in the majors with 44 steals, though he also paced the league with 12 caught stealings and logged poor defensive metrics in the outfield (-9 DRS, -5 OAA). Still, his game-changing speed is an intriguing weapon for Tampa Bay.

29. OF Cam Smith, Houston Astros (Age: 22)

Stats: 134 G, 90 wRC+, .236/.312/.358, 33 XBH (9 HR), 8 SB
WAR: 1.0

A surprise inclusion on Houston's Opening Day roster less than a year after going No. 14 overall in the 2024 draft, Smith was the prospect centerpiece of the deal that sent Kyle Tucker to the Cubs. He hit .277/.347/.418 with 25 extra-base hits in 323 plate appearances during the first half, and while he ran out of gas after the break, he has impact upside going forward.

28. SP Tomoyuki Sugano, Baltimore Orioles (Age: 35)

Stats: 30 GS, 4.64 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 36 BB, 106 K, 157.0 IP
WAR: 0.1

Sugano tied with Noah Cameron (KC) and Jack Leiter (TEX) for the lead among rookies with 10 quality starts, and he did a good job chewing up innings of a disappointing Orioles team. The longtime Japanese League star signed a one-year, $13 million deal during the offseason, and he plans to play stateside again in 2026.

27. RP Matt Svanson, St. Louis Cardinals (Age: 26)

Stats: 39 G, 5 HLD, 1.94 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 10.1 K/9, 60.1 IP
WAR: 1.0

Svanson limited opposing hitters to a .160 average with a fastball that averaged 96.9 mph and a good sweeper, settling into a prominent role in the St. Louis bullpen during the second half. He has been a nice find as the player who went the other way in the salary dump that sent Paul DeJong to Toronto in 2023.

26. SP/RP Braxton Ashcraft, Pittsburgh Pirates (Age: 26)

Stats: 26 G, 8 GS, 4 HLD, 2.71 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 9.2 K/9, 69.2 IP
WAR: 1.6

Somewhat overshadowed by Paul Skenes and Bubba Chandler in the Pittsburgh farm system, Ashcraft is a high-ceiling arm in his own right. He began his rookie campaign as a multi-inning reliever before working his way into the starting rotation, and he had a 2.16 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 35 strikeouts in 33.1 innings in his eight starts.

25. OF Jasson Domínguez, New York Yankees (Age: 22)

Stats: 123 G, 103 wRC+, .257/.331/.388, 29 XBH (10 HR), 23 SB
WAR: 0.6

Domínguez opened the season as the Yankees' starting left fielder, and he had a .760 OPS with 24 extra-base hits during the first half. However, his playing time eroded during the second half as Trent Grisham played his way into an everyday role, and he had just 20 plate appearances in September. Improved defense (-7 DRS, -10 OAA) is an important next step in his development.

24. OF Jake Mangum, Tampa Bay Rays (Age: 29)

Stats: 118 G, 95 wRC+, .296/.330/.368, 22 XBH (3 HR), 27 SB
WAR: 1.8

Mangum spent four years in the Mets system and one year with Miami's Triple-A affiliate before joining the Rays in a five-player deal prior to the 2024 season. Despite bottom-of-the-scale power, he made an impact with his speed, contact ability and outfield defense (3 DRS, 6 OAA).

23. RP Jack Dreyer, Los Angeles Dodgers (Age: 26)

Stats: 67 G, 10 HLD, 2.95 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 8.7 K/9, 76.1 IP
WAR: 1.7

Signed out of the University of Iowa as an undrafted free agent in 2021, Dreyer made an even 100 appearances in the minor leagues before earning a spot on the 2025 Opening Day roster. He ended up finishing third on the Dodgers roster with 67 games, providing much-needed stability for a banged up relief corps.

22. SP/RP Joey Cantillo, Cleveland Guardians (Age: 25)

Stats: 34 G, 13 GS, 3.21 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 42 BB, 108 K, 95.1 IP
WAR: 1.5

The Guardians acquired Cantillo as part of the massive six-player package they received from San Diego in exchange for Mike Clevinger at the 2020 trade deadline, and he finished the season strong after moving into the rotation at the beginning of July. Over his final seven starts, he logged a 1.59 ERA in 39.2 innings, allowing two or fewer earned runs in each of those outings.

21. OF Daylen Lile, Washington Nationals (Age: 22)

Stats: 91 G, 132 wRC+, .299/.347/.498, 35 XBH (9 HR), 8 SB
WAR: 1.4

Dylan Crews was the Nationals outfielder expected to have a breakout rookie campaign, but instead it was Lile who left the season looking like a long-term building block. He hit .333/.380/.576 with 10 doubles, 10 triples, seven home runs and 33 RBI in 230 plate appearances after the All-Star break.

20. 2B Luke Keaschall, Minnesota Twins (Age: 23)

Stats: 49 G, 134 wRC+, .302/.382/.445, 18 XBH (4 HR), 14 SB
WAR: 1.6

Keaschall made his MLB debut on April 18 and went 7-for-19 with three doubles in his first seven games before a fractured forearm sidelined him for more than three months. He returned on Aug. 5 and picked up right where he left off, going 10-for-22 with two home runs in his first five games back. He will be a popular breakout candidate in 2026.

19. C Kyle Teel, Chicago White Sox (Age: 23)

Stats: 78 G, 125 wRC+, .273/.375/.411, 19 XBH (8 HR), 3 SB
WAR: 1.9

One of the prospect centerpieces of the blockbuster deal that sent Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox, Teel hit every step of the way going back to his breakout junior season at the University of Virginia. After posting an .833 OPS with eight home runs and 29 RBI in 53 games after the All-Star break, he has a chance to be one of the best offensive catchers in baseball next year.

18. OF Jakob Marsee, Miami Marlins (Age: 24)

Stats: 55 G, 133 wRC+, .292/.363/.478, 26 XBH (5 HR), 14 SB
WAR: 2.1

Marsee announced himself as a prospect on the rise when he won Arizona Fall League MVP in 2023, and the following year he was traded from San Diego to Miami in the Luis Arráez deal. He made his MLB debut on Aug. 1 and immediately won NL Rookie of the Month, hitting .352/.430/.629 with 18 extra-base hits, 25 RBI and nine steals in 30 games.

17. SP Jack Leiter, Texas Rangers (Age: 25)

Stats: 29 GS, 3.86 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 67 BB, 148 K, 151.2 IP
WAR: 2.3

Leiter dealt with some ups and downs during his first full season in the majors, but started to find some consistency during the second half when he posted a 3.28 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 79 strikeouts in 71.1 innings over 13 starts. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft has not taken the fast track to stardom many were expecting, but he now looks like a long-term rotation piece.

16. 3B Matt Shaw, Chicago Cubs (Age: 23)

Stats: 126 G, 93 wRC+, .226/.295/.394, 37 XBH (13 HR), 17 SB
WAR: 1.4

After some early struggles and a quick demotion back to Triple-A, Shaw emerged as one of the more productive rookies in the league during the second half of the season. He posted an .839 OPS with 10 doubles, 11 home runs and 29 RBI in 205 plate appearances after the All-Star break, while also providing standout defense (12 DRS) at the hot corner.

15. SP Nolan McLean, New York Mets (Age: 24)

Stats: 8 GS, 2.06 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 16 BB, 57 K, 48.0 IP
WAR: 1.2

McLean will technically still be a rookie entering the 2026 season, as he fell two innings short of eclipsing the 50-inning threshold to exhaust his rookie status. That should make him the NL Rookie of the Year front-runner after he looked the part of a staff ace down the stretch, allowing two or fewer earned runs in each of his first seven starts after making his MLB debut on Aug. 16.

14. 3B Caleb Durbin, Milwaukee Brewers (Age: 25)

Stats: 136 G, 105 wRC+, .256/.334/.387, 36 XBH (11 HR), 18 SB
WAR: 2.6

Durbin won 2024 Breakout Player of the Year honors in the Arizona Fall League, and a few months later the Yankees flipped him to Milwaukee in the Devin Williams trade. He opened the season in the minors, but made his MLB debut on April 18 and quickly took over as the everyday third baseman. With good speed, solid contact skills and a plus glove (5 DRS, 2 OAA), he was a well-rounded contributor.

13. SP Will Warren, New York Yankees (Age: 26)

Stats: 33 GS, 4.44 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 65 BB, 171 K, 162.1 IP
WAR: 2.1

With Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil all on the injured list to start the year, Warren was unexpectedly thrust onto the Opening Day roster, and he ended up leading all rookies in starts (33), innings pitched (162.1) and strikeouts (171). He had a stretch of eight starts in July and August where he logged a 2.74 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 42.2 innings.

12. SP Chad Patrick, Milwaukee Brewers (Age: 27)

Stats: 27 G, 23 GS, 3.53 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 40 BB, 127 K, 119.2 IP
WAR: 2.6

An under-the-radar trade pickup in the deal that sent infielder Abraham Toro to the Athletics prior to the 2024 season, Patrick ended up being a key cog in Milwaukee's pitching staff. He went 14-1 with a 2.90 ERA in 136.1 innings at Triple-A last year, and proved to be more than just organizational depth when called upon this season.

11. OF Isaac Collins, Milwaukee Brewers (Age: 28)

Stats: 130 G, 122 wRC+, .263/.368/.411, 34 XBH (9 HR), 16 SB
WAR: 2.6

Another Brewers rookie who is several years past traditional prospect age, Collins was a ninth-round pick by the Rockies back in 2019. He joined the Brewers organization on a waiver claim prior to the 2023 season, and made the most of the opportunity this year when injuries cleared a path. From June 1 through the end of the year, he hit .276/.383/.449 with 28 extra-base hits in 86 games.

10. SP Cam Schlittler, New York Yankees (Age: 24)

Stats: 14 GS, 2.96 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 31 BB, 84 K, 73.0 IP
WAR: 1.3

Schlittler became a household name when he tossed eight shutout innings in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against the rival Red Sox, but he made his mark as one of the year's top rookie pitchers during a terrific second half. He allowed two or fewer earned runs in 11 of his 14 starts, and looks like a building block in the rotation going forward.

9. SS Colson Montgomery, Chicago White Sox (Age: 23)

Stats: 71 G, 129 wRC+, .239/.311/.529, 31 XBH (21 HR), 0 SB
WAR: 2.7

Montgomery saw his prospect stock take a hit when he batted .214 with 164 strikeouts in 130 games at Triple-A last year, and his 2025 got off to an equally uninspired start before he caught fire in June. He made his MLB debut on July 4, and his 21 home runs from that point forward tied for ninth in the majors during that span.

8. SP Shane Smith, Chicago White Sox (Age: 25)

Stats: 29 GS, 3.81 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 58 BB, 145 K, 146.1 IP
WAR: 2.2

From Rule 5 draft pick to Opening Day rotation to All-Star Game, Smith made the most of his opportunity with the rebuilding White Sox. He had a 2.37 ERA in 68.1 innings over his first 13 starts, and while he dealt with some ups and downs as the weather heated up, he closed out the year with strong starts against the Yankees (5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER) and Nationals (6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER).

7. C Carlos Narváez, Boston Red Sox (Age: 26)

Stats: 118 G, 97 wRC+, .241/.306/.419, 42 XBH (15 HR), 1 SB
WAR: 2.5

It's not often the Red Sox and Yankees link up on a trade, and a breakout performance from Narváez is not going to make New York anxious to do it again any time soon. An injury to Connor Wong gave him an early shot at the starting job and he ran with it, posting strong offensive numbers for the position while grading out as one of the best defensive catchers in the game.

6. SP Noah Cameron, Kansas City Royals (Age: 26)

Stats: 24 GS, 2.99 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 43 BB, 114 K, 138.1 IP
WAR: 1.8

Cameron began his big league career with five straight quality starts, posting a 0.85 ERA and 0.79 WHIP in 31.2 innings. His 4.18 FIP might be a better indication of what to expect going forward, but he was a steady presence in the Kansas City rotation from the moment he debuted. He threw five different pitches at least 10 percent of the time, and that repertoire helps keep hitters off balance.

Age: 23
Stats: 125 G, 121 wRC+, .311/.355/.444, 39 XBH (13 HR), 5 SB
WAR: 3.5

Jacob Wilson was one of the best contact hitters in baseball from the onset of his rookie season, hitting .329/.373/.459 during the first half to earn the starting nod in the All-Star Game.

A fractured left forearm cost him nearly a month during the second half and the league made adjustments, but he still hit .311 to finish third in the AL batting title race, behind only Aaron Judge and Bo Bichette.

Expect him to be a perennial batting title contender after he put the ball in play in roughly 86 percent of his plate appearances as a rookie.

Age: 24
Stats: 124 G, 125 wRC+, .274/.341/.469, 39 XBH (19 HR), 0 SB
WAR: 3.1

Drake Baldwin emerged as the top prospect in the Atlanta farm system during a breakout 2024 season, but it took an injury to Sean Murphy to clear a path for him to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster.

He showed enough to stick around before Murphy returned, and by season's end, he was one of the most productive players in the lineup and the Braves had settled into a catcher and designated hitter rotation for their two standout backstops.

His 80 RBI led all NL rookies and ranked second only to Nick Kurtz (86) among all newcomers, and he hit .319/.379/.487 over 124 plate appearances with runners in scoring position.

Age: 24
Stats: 23 G, 22 GS, 2.67 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 33 BB, 97 K, 118.0 IP
WAR: 2.2

With a 1.03 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 54 strikeouts in 61.1 innings, Cade Horton was one of the best pitchers in baseball during the second half of the season while emerging as the ace of the staff on the North Side.

The No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 draft was limited by a shoulder strain last season and something of a wild card entering the year, but he made his MLB debut on May 10 and quickly emerged as one of the best young arms in the sport.

Unfortunately, a rib injury has kept him off the NLWC and NLDS rosters, leaving a glaring hole in the Cubs' playoff rotation.

Age: 21
Stats: 71 G, 140 wRC+, .292/.396/.463, 27 XBH (8 HR), 4 SB
WAR: 2.7

Roman Anthony entered the year as the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball after hitting .291/.396/.498 with 54 extra-base hits in the upper levels of the minors in his age-20 season in 2024.

He made his MLB debut on June 9, and while he got off to a slow start, he hit .329/.420/.510 in 245 plate appearances over his final 55 games before landing on the injured list with an oblique strain.

The Red Sox ended up going 44-27 (.620) in the 71 games he played, compared to 45-46 (.494) without him in the lineup, and their Wild Card Series matchup with the Yankees might have gone differently with him in the mix.

Age: 22
Stats: 117 G, 170 wRC+, .290/.383/.619, 64 XBH (36 HR), 2 SB
WAR: 4.6

Nick Kurtz put together one of the greatest offensive seasons in MLB history by a rookie, crushing 36 home runs even after spending the first month of the season in the minors and then going homerless in his first 16 games.

With elite batted-ball metrics and strong home/road splits that suggest his stellar numbers are more than just a result of playing his home games in a minor league stadium, he has the potential to be one of the game's most feared sluggers for years to come.

Kurtz also still has plenty of room for improvement after hitting .197/.261/.423 in 153 plate appearances against left-handed pitching, so there might still be more to come.