Cade Horton Falls Short in Rookie of the Year Voting after Generational Second Half
In an interesting turn of events, Drake Baldwin took home the Rookie of the Year award over Cade Horton.
Drake Baldwin is your 2025 National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year! pic.twitter.com/qojtcbSJYO
— MLB (@MLB) November 11, 2025
Just three weeks ago, Horton was named Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News, an award voted on by his fellow players. His pitch arsenal featured five different offerings, led by a four-seam fastball that averaged around 95.7 mph. He posted a 2.67 ERA over 118 innings, striking out 97 batters during the season.
Jake Peavy put it well on MLB Network: Cade Horton was the best pitcher in the second half of Major League Baseball. The rookie recorded a 1.03 ERA after the All-Star break, the sixth-best mark in baseball history. After that point, he didn’t allow more than two runs in any start.
"He was the best pitcher in the second half in Major League Baseball…"
Jake Peavy makes the case for Cade Horton ahead of the 2025 Rookie of the Year Award announcements. pic.twitter.com/phLKPU8iJv
— MLB Now (@MLBNow) November 10, 2025
Baldwin was outstanding, posting an .810 OPS with 19 home runs across 124 games. However, choosing him over Horton after the generational stretch the pitcher put together is a very questionable decision. Paige Leckie, a writer covering the Washington Nationals, left Horton off her ballot entirely, instead placing Cubs rookie Matt Shaw third in her rankings. Baldwin winning the award is understandable, but leaving Horton off altogether is one of the more baffling decisions I can remember when it comes to BBWAA award voting.
