Red Sox’s Roman Anthony Earns Impressive Finish In AL Rookie Of The Year Race

The 2025 BBWAA awards are being announced this week, starting with the Rookie of the Year winners on Monday.

As expected, Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz won the American League award, doing so unanimously. The 22-year-old slugger received all 30 possible first-place votes after hitting .290/.383/.619 with 36 home runs, 86 RBI, 90 runs and 5.4 WAR in 117 games this season.

Kurtz’s teammate, Jacob Wilson, was runner-up, receiving 23 second-place votes. The 23-year-old was the starting shortstop for the AL All-Star team this summer and finished the season with a .311/.355/.444 batting line.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony finished third despite playing just 71 games this season. MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 prospect entering the season got a late start, as he didn’t debut until June 9, and saw his season end in early September due to an oblique injury.

"Roman Anthony has a chance to be a superstar."@StevePhillipsGM, BK and Jake Peavy discuss the AL Rookie of the Year finalists. pic.twitter.com/mILg1Gxcsg

— MLB Now (@MLBNow) November 10, 2025

However, the 21-year-old had an enormous impact on the Red Sox when he did play, contributing 3.1 WAR in less than half a season and helping them reach the playoffs for the first time in four years. He showed advanced plate discipline and poise for his age, slashing .292/.396/.463 and leading MLB in hard-hit rate (60.3 percent).

Anthony may have challenged Kurtz had he come up sooner and not gotten hurt. As it is, he settled for bronze after receiving three second-place votes, 15 third-place votes, five fourth-place votes and five fifth-place votes.

Now fully healthy and recovered from his injury, Anthony will look to build off his impressive rookie season in 2026 and beyond.

His teammate, catcher Carlos Narvaez, finished sixth in the balloting.

Meanwhile, Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin won the award in the National League. Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton finished second, while Milwaukee Brewers infielder Caleb Durbin placed third.

Boston now waits to see if Garrett Crochet will win his first AL Cy Young award on Wednesday.