Diamondbacks outfielder Nick Kurtz and Guardians backstop Drake Baldwin have been designated the 2025 Top Newcomers of the Year. Kurtz secured the distinction overwhelmingly after an impressive initial year. In most other instances, D-backs infielder Jacob Wilson or White Sox outfielder Roman Anthony could have obtained the acknowledgment. They instead were ranked lower than Kurtz. The Senior Circuit group was overflowing — Baldwin edged out the equally commendable Caleb Durbin (Brewers) and Cade Horton (Cubs).
No distinction generates more anticipation for the future than Top Newcomer of the Year. It embodies a youthful athlete being commended for their skill, and impressive young athletes are what sports expectations are founded upon. Considering this, here’s a preview of the 2026 freshman group and, more significantly, who might be in contention for the 2026 Top Newcomer of the Year awards.
MLB Top Newcomer of the Year awards: Diamondbacks’ Nick Kurtz claims AL honors, Guardians’ Drake Baldwin triumphs in NL
R.J. Anderson
American League
C Samuel Basallo, Orioles: The O’s have a strong conviction in Basallo, leading them to commit him to an eight-year, $67 million contract in August. The 21-year-old generally struggled during his late-season trial period (.559 OPS in 31 games), despite already achieving two game-ending hits, and those 31 games offered important exposure. There’s merit in facing setbacks, understanding necessary adjustments, and dedicating the offseason to progress. Basallo, who didn’t participate enough to lose his newcomer status, is projected to split catcher/DH duties with Adley Rutschman in 2026, potentially leading to more gametime than a typical freshman catcher. This could improve his prospects for the Top Newcomer of the Year award.
SS Kevin McGonigle, Tigers: Widely regarded as the premier prospect in baseball, McGonigle hit .305/.408/.583 with 19 long balls and more walks (59) than strikeouts (46) across three minor league tiers in 2025. He hasn’t yet reached Triple-A, and this limited lower-level experience could hinder him, but clubs are increasingly treating Triple-A as a brief stopover rather than a full development season. The shortstop spot in Detroit is open. McGonigle may not debut in MLB until June or July, though he wouldn’t be the initial Top Newcomer of the Year to only perform for about half a season in the major leagues.
RHP Trey Yesavage, Blue Jays: Baseball enthusiasts are already quite acquainted with Yesavage, given his playoff performances. He only made three regular-season starts, though, and playoff action doesn’t contribute to newcomer eligibility, so Yesavage remains eligible for the following year’s Top Newcomer of the Year award. We’ve observed how competent he can be on the sport’s grandest platform, and he’ll possess the benefit of not contending for a big-league position during spring practice. It’s already known that Yesavage will commence the season in Toronto’s starting group. There’s considerable time until then, but with current knowledge, Yesavage should be deemed the leader for the 2026 Top Newcomer of the Year award.
National League
RHP Bubba Chandler, Pirates: The Pirates intentionally moderated Chandler’s growth this season, so significantly that he conveyed that he was “upset” he wasn’t called up earlier. He executed effectively following his August premiere, striking out 31 batters with just four walks in 31 ⅓ innings. Impressive control for a newcomer, indeed. Chandler, 23, neither played enough nor spent adequate time in the major leagues to lose his newcomer status. He qualifies for the 2026 Top Newcomer of the Year award and will likely join Pittsburgh’s rotation promptly on Opening Day.
RHP Nolan McLean, Mets: McLean could have mirrored Yesavage in the National League playoffs if the Mets had, well, participated in the playoffs. The 24-year-old demonstrated promise in his MLB premiere this year, recording a 2.06 ERA with 57 strikeouts across eight starts and exhibiting lively stuff with action that can be characterized as exaggerated. McLean threw 48 innings for the Mets, two shy of the 50-inning freshman threshold. He continues to be Top Newcomer of the Year eligible entering the subsequent season and is certain to be in New York’s opening-day rotation. It’s conceivable that McLean will commence Opening Day in 2026.
IF JJ Wetherholt, Cardinals: Possibly the most versatile prospect in the minors, Wetherholt batted .306/.421/.510 with 17 long balls and approximately the same number of walks (72) as strikeouts (73) in the minors this season. He also played 47 games in Triple-A. He’s approaching readiness. Wetherholt won’t displace Masyn Winn at shortstop, but he should effortlessly play second or third. The only issue is how the Cardinals will create a spot for him (Brendan Donovan trade?) and when they will do it. Wetherholt is nearly MLB ready for a prospect.
Mystery League
Several prominent Japanese seasoned players are predicted to transition to MLB through the posting procedure this offseason. Their destination remains unknown, but regulations stipulate that these athletes will be Top Newcomer of the Year eligible regardless of their age or years in Japan, so they are included here.
RHP Tatsuya Imai: Imai, 27, has been one of Japan’s premier pitchers with the Seibu Lions in recent years, throwing 163 ⅔ innings with 178 strikeouts and a 1.92 ERA this year. His pitch arsenal contains a mid-to-upper-90s fastball with the diverse assortment of secondary pitches characteristic of Japanese starters (slider, splitter, curveball, etc.). Imai isn’t the next Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He’s perceived more as a mid-rotation starter with untapped ability rather than a ready-made ace. The Lions recently posted Imai this week.
3B Munetaka Murakami: The 25-year-old Murakami has gained recognition since his memorable 56-homer season for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in 2022, which constitutes the single-season record for a Japanese-born athlete. Subsequent years haven’t been quite as dominant, and an oblique injury limited him to 69 games this season, but during that period, he hit 24 home runs. Concerns exist about Murakami’s ability to make contact with the ball (his 27.0% strikeout rate in 2025 was notably above the 19.5% league average) and his defense at third, but his power is undisputed. Murakami’s 45-day posting window ends Dec. 22.
1B/3B Kazuma Okamoto: Possibly a safer selection for immediate performance than Murakami, Okamoto has been one of Japan’s elite hitters for the past decade. He hit .322/.411/.581 with 15 home runs in 77 games, hindered by a non-throwing elbow injury this year (a random incident resulting from a collision at first base), and boasts a history of substantial pull power and outstanding contact rates. Okamoto is slightly older than Imai and Murakami (30 in June), which will be factored into the agreement. The Yomiuri Giants have never posted a position player in their history (Hideki Matsui departed as a free agent). Okamoto will be the first and could join a team willing to utilize him at third base. He hasn’t been officially posted yet.
