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On November 10, 2025, Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin was announced as the National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year. The BBWAA vote, tallied before postseason play, made Baldwin the seventh catcher to take the NL honor and the second catcher in franchise history. Baldwin also became the only player named on every ballot, delivering a unanimous nod from the voters. The award marks the Braves’ 10th Rookie of the Year recognition, the second-most in the National League behind the Dodgers’ 18.
Key Takeaways
- Drake Baldwin (Braves) was named the 2025 NL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year on November 10, 2025, and appeared on every ballot.
- Baldwin is the seventh catcher in NL history to win the award and the second Braves catcher after Earl Williams (1971).
- Other NL catcher winners listed include Johnny Bench (1968), Benito Santiago (1987), Mike Piazza (1993), Giovanny Soto (2008) and Buster Posey (2010).
- American League catchers who have won the award: Thurman Munson (1970), Carlton Fisk (1972) and Sandy Alomar Jr. (1990).
- The Braves now have 10 total Rookie of the Year winners; only the Dodgers have more in the NL with 18.
- Thirty BBWAA ballots were submitted (two writers representing each NL city); votes were tabulated on the 7-4-3-2-1 points system.
- Ballots were cast prior to postseason play and counted using the BBWAA’s standard point allocation for first through fifth place.
Background
The Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year award is presented annually by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America to the top rookie in each league. The award has recognized position players and pitchers since its inception, with catchers historically earning the NL prize infrequently; Baldwin is the seventh to do so in National League history. Catchers face a particular challenge for award consideration because their defensive responsibilities can obscure offensive production, making Baldwin’s recognition notable.
The Braves franchise has a long association with the Rookie of the Year honor across its moves and eras. Winners for the organization include Earl Williams (1971), Bob Horner (1978), David Justice (1990), Rafael Furcal (2000), Craig Kimbrel (2011), Ronald Acuña Jr. (2018) and Michael Harris II (2022). The franchise did not produce a ROY winner during the Milwaukee era (1953–65), and the Boston-era winners include Alvin Dark (1948) and Sam Jethroe (1950).
Main Event
The BBWAA announced Baldwin’s selection on November 10, 2025, after tabulating 30 ballots submitted by two members representing each National League city. Voters applied the established 7-4-3-2-1 scoring method for first through fifth place; ballots were collected before the postseason, as the BBWAA’s rules prescribe. Baldwin led the voting decisively and was the only player to appear on every ballot, securing the award without postseason influence on the decision.
The contemporary field included several notable rookies across the NL. Cade Horton (Cubs), Caleb Durbin (Brewers), Isaac Collins (Brewers) and Daylen Lile (Nationals) finished among the players receiving support on the ballots. The BBWAA published a full ballot-by-ballot breakdown showing the distribution of first- through fifth-place choices from each of the 30 voters.
Braves officials and the Atlanta scouting and player-development staff have emphasized Baldwin’s combination of defensive work behind the plate, pitch framing and offensive contributions as the basis for his rise. Baldwin’s steady performance over the season and reputation among media covering the team translated into consistent recognition on ballots from around the league.
Analysis & Implications
Baldwin’s win underscores the growing premium teams and evaluators place on catchers who can contribute both offensively and manage pitching staffs. Catcher winners remain rare: Baldwin is the first NL catcher to win since Buster Posey in 2010, illustrating how exceptional the position’s simultaneous offensive and defensive impact must be to carry a rookie to this level. For Atlanta, the award reinforces the club’s player-development success in recent cycles.
From a roster-management perspective, Baldwin’s accolade may affect the Braves’ short-term outlook for playing time, workload and contract considerations. A rookie of the year title elevates a player’s profile within the organization and across the league, potentially accelerating the team’s plans for long-term investment in his position. Clubs around MLB may also take note when constructing prospect boards and trade conversations involving catching depth.
On a broader scale, Baldwin’s unanimous appearance on every ballot suggests a clear media consensus about his standing among 2025 rookies. That unanimity reduces debate about subjective voter variation and indicates Baldwin’s season produced both visible counting stats and the kind of defensive metrics or scouting reports that voters require to grant such consistent support.
Comparison & Data
| Team | Rookie of the Year Winners (All Eras) |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 18 |
| Atlanta Braves | 10 |
| Other NL teams (combined) | varied |
The BBWAA uses 30 ballots (two per NL city) with a 7-4-3-2-1 point scale for first through fifth places. Ballots are cast before postseason play to isolate regular-season performance. The BBWAA also posted the full 30-voter ballot list and the point totals for each player in the vote tabulation; Baldwin topped that tally and was the only player on every ballot.
Reactions & Quotes
Below are representative official and media reactions placing Baldwin’s award in context.
Drake Baldwin was named National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year.
BBWAA (official announcement)
BBWAA’s release delivered the formal result and the voting mechanics; the organization also published the voter-by-voter breakdown and the points totals used to determine the winner.
Baldwin appeared on every ballot, reflecting broad consensus among the writers covering the National League.
BBWAA voting summary
That unanimity was emphasized in coverage and in the official voting notes released alongside the tabulation, underlining the degree of agreement among the 30 voters.
Braves staff and national beat writers noted Baldwin’s defensive work and game-calling as factors that complemented his offensive output this season.
Multiple club and media sources (game coverage)
Local and national reporters covering Atlanta highlighted how Baldwin’s all-around contributions—beyond raw batting numbers—shaped his narrative in the rookie discussion.
Unconfirmed
- The provided raw vote-line formatting in the data set contains concatenated numbers that would benefit from formal BBWAA tabulation for line-by-line clarity; the point totals and ballot placements are confirmed by the BBWAA release itself.
- No comprehensive public breakdown of advanced defensive metrics votes (how much each voter weighed framing or pitch-calling) is available; voter rationales beyond ballot entries were not released.
Bottom Line
Drake Baldwin’s selection as the 2025 National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year—receiving a spot on every BBWAA ballot—marks a notable achievement for a catcher and for the Atlanta Braves’ development pipeline. The award breaks a 15-year gap since the last NL catcher winner (Buster Posey, 2010) and cements Baldwin’s season as the consensus top rookie in the senior circuit.
For the Braves, Baldwin’s ROY is the franchise’s 10th such honor and contributes to a narrative of sustained young-player production. Leaguewide, the recognition reinforces the rarity and value of catchers who can influence games both offensively and defensively. Observers should watch how Baldwin’s role evolves in Atlanta and whether this rookie season portends long-term All-Star-level performance.