The Atlanta Braves' 2025 season was a lost year, as Brian Snitker and the Braves were listless for the majority of the season. Atlanta finished 76-86, the first time they've been under.500 since 2017.
But, despite the poor end-of-season result, the Braves still saw a lot of positives from the year. Ronald Acuña Jr. Returned from injury and was still as great as he always is, and more impressively, Drake Baldwin emerged as a great asset for the Braves.
After their impressive 2025 seasons, the Braves shared on Twitter/X that both Acuña and Baldwin won awards for the NL Comeback Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year as voted on by Major Leaguers for the MLBPA awards.
Comeback Player of the Year and Outstanding Rookie 👏
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 29, 2025
Congratulations to Ronald and Drake on their @MLBPA Players Choice Awards! Pic.twitter.com/4yYQzyA4Sb
Ronald Acuña Jr. And Drake Baldwin honored by MLBPA for great 2025 seasons
Ronald Acuña Jr. Named MLBPA NL Comeback Player of the Year
Acuña was named the 2025 National League Comeback Player of the Year by the MLBPA, as he returned from a brutal ACL injury he suffered in the 2024 season. He had played in just 49 games in 2024 and missed part of 2025.
But in the 95 games played with the Braves in 2025, he was incredible. He hit.290 with a.417 on-base percentage and a.935 OPS. His 163 OPS+ was the second-best mark of his career, only behind his ridiculous 2023 MVP season.
In an abbreviated 2025 season, Acuña finished with 98 hits, 74 runs scored, 12 doubles, one triple, 21 home runs, 42 RBIs, nine stolen bases, and 3.1 bWAR.
After his second ACL tear, there were reasonable concerns about his play going forward. Acuña put those concerns to rest with an incredible year, being voted by his fellow players as the NL Comeback Player of the Year.
More: Braves predicted to reunite with $58M golden arm, 869 strikeout reliever after up-and-down season
Drake Baldwin named MLBPA NL Rookie of the Year
Baldwin, a 24-year-old catcher, was the Braves' backup for a decent part of the season behind Sean Murphy. But by year's end, Baldwin was too good to sit on the bench, and he wound up starting 92 games as a catcher, 12 as a designated hitter, and pinch-hitting 12 times this season.
The 2025 season was his first in the Majors, and he didn't play like it was. In 124 games, Baldwin hit.274 with an.810 OPS and 126 OPS+ from the catcher's position, making him one of the best-hitting catchers in baseball.
In his first MLB season, Baldwin finished with 111 hits, 56 runs scored, 18 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs, 80 RBIs, 38 walks, and just 68 strikeouts.
The third-round pick in the 2022 MLB amateur draft was incredible for the Braves in 2025, and now features to be a staple of the Braves lineup going forward. His peers recognized him for such an incredible rookie campaign, voting him the MLBPA NL Rookie of the Year.
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