The 2025 season is winding down and among the end of season hardware set to be handed out, the National League Rookie of the Year race is proving to be one of the closest. Some books currently have Cubs starting pitcher Cade Horton as the favorite while Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin is favored by others. Everyone agrees that the race will be close and will ultimately come down to each voter's preferences, although don't tell Baldwin's teammates that because they think the answer is clear.
There truly is a case to made to be made for both players and the Brewers have a trio of rookies (Chad Patrick, Caleb Durbin, and Isaac Collins) with legitimate cases as well. However, most agree that the race will come down to Horton and Baldwin and Baldwin's Braves' teammates went on the record recently to voice their support in comments to The Athletic recently.
Drake Baldwin's Braves teammates think he is the clear Rookie of the Year choice
Now, you wouldn't expect the Braves clubhouse to not support their teammate in this way. However, the sheer breadth of his support from Atlanta's roster speaks both to the impression Baldwin has made as well as how much his teammates think of him.
For example, Matt Olson, a veteran at the top of his game, was glowing in his endorsement of Baldwin. "Basically with Murph gone, (Baldwin’s) had to be the guy. He’s had to take charge of the pitching staff a little bit. Every task that he’s been presented with, he’s handled. I know (Horton) has been good, but the bat that (Baldwin) has provided from the catching position, which is not easy to start with — it’s got to be worth an extra couple of points.”
Need more, how about relatively new Braves pitcher Joey Wentz saying, "He just doesn’t play like a rookie. It’s not like I’m a veteran saying that, but he’s just a spectacular player." Even Braves manager Brian Snitker went to bat for Baldwin. "To me, that’s a no-brainer right there for the ROY. Just the at-bats, all the RBIs that he has, the big hits, the game-winners, the hits that really mean something. It’s been really, really impressive.”
The Braves could really use Baldwin winning Rookie of the Year to be sure. Not only would it net the team an extra early draft pick in next year's MLB Draft, but it would also give fans something to cheer for. The team's current win streak has been nice, but having some prestigious hardware head the team's way could go a long way towards getting fans excited heading into next season.