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O Botafogo de Artur Jorge está voando na temporada e se tem um responsável por fazer a equipe chegar nesse patamar, o nome dele é Júnior Santos. Enquanto a equipe vivia a turbulência da não classificação para as semifinais do campeonato carioca e a demissão de Tiago Nunes que deixou a classificação para a fase de grupos da Libertadores ameaçada, foi a regularidade e o brilho do atacante que garantiram a tranquilidade.

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A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

O Lance! Betting tem apostas a longo prazo para a Seleção Brasileira em 2024! Vem conferir!

A teporada de Júnior Santos é irretocável até aqui. O atacante é o jogador com maior número de participações em gols do futebol brasileiro em 2024. São 16 gols marcados e quatro assistências distribúidas, somando ao todo 20 colaborações em gols para o Botafogo. O jogador é o artilheiro da atual edição da Copa Libertadores com nove gols, além de ter assumido o posto de maior artilheiro da história do Botafogo na competição.

A grande temporada de Júnior Santos atraiu o interesse de outros clubes do futebol brasileiro. Ainda no início do ano, o atacante recebeu uma sondagem do Palmeiras, mas o próprio Textor, dono do Botafogo rechaçou qualquer negocio.

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Já o mais recente interesse veio de Minas Gerais. O Cruzeiro apresentou uma proposta no valor de cinco milhões de euros (28 milhões de reais), que também foi recusada pelo clube alvinegro.

Tudo sobre

Artur JorgeBotafogoCruzeiroFutebol BrasileiroJohn TextorJúnior SantosLibertadoresLibertadores 2024PalmeirasSAF

Leeds United fans must now be growing impatient with Daniel Farke at the helm, as another disastrous away performance was put in against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Heading into this huge tie towards the lower reaches of the Premier League, Forest had managed to collect just one home victory all season long.

Thankfully for Sean Dyche’s men, Leeds felt in a charitable mood defensively as another horror show performance on the road saw the Whites crash to a 3-1 loss, which now leaves the away side just one point above the dreaded bottom three spaces.

While the Tricky Trees have shot up to nine points after the win, and have some much-needed hope now that they can get out of their relegation mire, Leeds seem to be getting sucked more and more into a dog-fight as the season progresses, with several Whites first-teamers letting their under-fire manager down in the dreadful defeat.

Leeds' biggest underperformers against Forest

Minus Lukas Nmecha, who hammered home Leeds’ opening strike of the day before the wheels fell off, not many Leeds shirts can come away from that 3-1 loss with their heads held high.

In particular, the Leeds midfield ranks badly let the German down, as Sean Longstaff looked nowhere near his assured best when squandering possession 13 times.

Moreover, Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu also looked a shadow of his Championship best up against Dyche’s rejuvenated hosts, with the Whites captain failing to provide the away side’s defence with a stern cover, when winning just four of his nine duel attempts.

He was also at fault when Morgan Gibbs-White headed home the game-clinching second goal for the Tricky Trees, as the Welshman – alongside an equally ropey Jaka Bijol – left the England international in acres of room to become Forest’s hero on the day.

Farke will know he needs to make some alterations for Leeds’ next Premier League clash against Aston Villa in a bid to save his job.

Farke must now ditch Leeds' new Meslier-like figure

A certain Illan Meslier is now nowhere to be seen in the Leeds starting lineups, despite once being a regular week in, week out, stretching all the way back to the glory days of Marcelo Bielsa.

He was a consistent starter last season up to a point, too, before far too many error-prone moments started seeping into his game, leaving Farke with no choice but to bring in reserve stopper Karl Darlow to see out the rest of Leeds’ promotion bid.

Former Arsenal winger Perry Groves would put it down to a “lack of concentration” on the ex-Lorient goalkeeper’s end when consistently making errors, which made Leeds move for a new number one stopper in Lucas Perri in the summer.

The Frenchman hasn’t always been dismissed as an accident waiting to happen in between the sticks, though, with 21 clean sheets tallied up last season when at the peak of his powers.

Another scapegoat in the shape of Brenden Aaronson could well be becoming a new Meslier-type figure in the here and now for Leeds.

An unbelievable performance against West Ham United, which saw him bag Leeds’ opener, was then followed up by two forgettable showings against Brighton and Hove Albion and Forest to start November off on a damp note and push him back into the spotlight as an inconsistent individual who lets his side down too often, just like Meslier.

Minutes played

90

74

Goals scored

0

0

Assists

0

1

Touches

41

38

Accurate passes

24/26 (92%)

14/15 (93%)

Shots

0

2

Successful dribbles

0/2

1/7

Possession lost

11x

10x

Ball recoveries

1

10

Total duels won

3/10

8/16

Across Leeds’ last two pitiful defeats on the road, Aaronson has only managed to muster up one successful dribble from nine attempts, which is a far cry from him completing all 100% of his dribbles against West Ham as a reliable livewire.

On top of that, while the American found himself in the thick of the action all night long against Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, he could only amass a lacklustre 38 touches of the ball versus Forest, with the aforementioned Perri even managing more in between the sticks at 44.

These constant hot and cold performances could kill Farke in the long run as he searches for consistent form from all his players to save his skin, with Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth handing Aaronson a 4/10 post-match rating even after he had a minimal part to play in Nmecha’s early strike.

Daniel James and Wilfried Gnonto are available in reserve down the right flank if Farke wants to ditch the attacking midfielder who has been so staunchly loyal to.

BBC commentator drops immediate verdict on Farke amid Leeds sack rumours

Leeds have lost four of their last five Premier League games.

ByJames O'Reilly Nov 9, 2025

Newcastle United have now reportedly set their sights on welcoming an impressive Bundesliga talent back to the Premier League in 2026.

Newcastle receive shock Wissa hope before Burnley

In their 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night, Newcastle certainly could’ve done with the added firepower of Yoane Wissa. They welcomed the news that he’d been left out of the DR Congo squad for the African Cup of Nations, but were yet to welcome their summer signing back from the sidelines.

That, however, could be about to change. The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope dropped an unexpected update on Wissa’s fitness on Wednesday afternoon, claiming that the forward is now “pushing” to make a shock return to the bench against Burnley.

With fixtures coming thick and fast, to say Wissa’s return against Burnley would be a major boost for Eddie Howe would be an understatement. The Newcastle boss is yet to see his summer signing in action.

The returning forward may not be the only player to hand Howe a much-needed boost in the coming months, either. The January transfer window is now less than a month away and reports are claiming that Newcastle are preparing their move to sign Igor Thiago in a Wissa repeat.

The Brentford forward, who replaced Wissa in West London, has only been outscored by Erling Haaland in the Premier League so far this season and may have done enough to earn a big move.

It looks like those at St James’ Park are ready to add that quality in depth all across the pitch too, with Bilal El Khannouss also emerging as a 2026 target.

Newcastle determined to sign El Khannouss

As reported by TeamTalk, Newcastle are now determined to sign El Khannouss in 2026 and could attempt to secure his signature once his loan spell at VfB Stuttgart comes to an end next summer.

£65m Newcastle duo should be fuming with Howe's team selection vs Spurs

Two Newcastle players, in particular, are unlikely to be too happy right now.

ByMatt Dawson Dec 3, 2025

During his time away from Leicester City, the midfielder has thrived – scoring five goals and creating another six in all competitions. But his heart remains set on a return to the Premier League that Newcastle could offer him next year.

Dubbed one of the “most intelligent creators” by Como scout Ben Mattinson back in April, it’s clear that El Khannouss wants to end some unfinished business in the Premier League.

The 21-year-old went out with a whimper at Leicester City last season, but could come roaring back to England’s top tier courtesy of Newcastle next year.

Newcastle serious January bid for £13.5m "playmaker" likened to Tonali

Eighteen Tests into his tenure, a world-class attack and a promising batting group haven’t yet translated into results, and questions may grow louder if India lose this series

Karthik Krishnaswamy19-Nov-20253:11

‘Gambhir should be doing much better with the players at his disposal’

We win as a team, we lose as a team.It’s a line Gautam Gambhir uses often in his press conferences, usually in reply to questions highlighting individual success or failure. It’s not about the individual. That’s another pet Gambhir line.It might be time, though, to talk about one individual in his group: Gambhir himself.India’s defeat to South Africa at Eden Gardens was their fourth home loss under Gambhir. He has presided over as many home losses, in just over a year, as his three immediate predecessors as head coach – Rahul Dravid, Ravi Shastri (over two stints, including one as team director) and Anil Kumble – did in a decade.Related

• Five ways India can regain Test stronghold, especially at home

• Rishabh Pant's battle with Simon Harmer could define his first Test as captain

• Left-hand or left-field – who fills in for Gill in Guwahati Test?

• Formidable to fallible – India slump to 53-year low in home Tests

• Kolkata minefield: Bavuma stands tall, Washington stands longer

India have won four home Tests under Gambhir – two against Bangladesh, two against West Indies. They presently have a 0-4 home record against New Zealand and South Africa. Overall, home and away, it’s 7-9.It isn’t pretty.There are mitigating factors at play. Gambhir took charge of a team in transition, and the retirements of R Ashwin, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma happened under his watch. Each of the home defeats has come on tricky surfaces where small turns of fortune were often decisive and often went against India. Kolkata hinged on many such moments, including the toss – India also lost the toss in Pune and Mumbai against New Zealand – and an injury that restricted Shubman Gill, their captain and key middle-order batter, to facing just three balls in the match. That India lost by only 30 runs in these circumstances suggested they weren’t all that far from winning.But that, in effect, has been India’s issue right through the Gambhir era. This is not the team of MS Dhoni and Duncan Fletcher, which lost 4-0 in England and 4-0 in Australia and 2-1 at home to England. That was a team with a transitioning batting line-up and, more crucially, a wayward, inexperienced attack that was seldom able to keep any opposition under pressure for long periods.Gambhir’s team is not that team. The bowling group is world-class, full of experience, variety and wicket-taking skill. The batting is strong and deep and has shown little sign of missing Kohli or Rohit – though India would love to be able to bring one of them in if Gill misses the Guwahati Test, as they try and work out how to manage a surfeit of left-handed options. The tour of England this summer showed just how prolific India’s young batters can be when the conditions aren’t loaded against them.1:18

Is the pressure mounting on Gambhir, the red-ball coach?

India have competed on at least an even footing in pretty much every Test against strong opposition during Gambhir’s tenure, home and away. They have won Test matches with key players unavailable. They won in Perth with a team featuring two debutants, one batter with just one previous Test cap, and another with just three. They won at Edgbaston and The Oval without their talisman Jasprit Bumrah.And so many of their losses, like Kolkata, have left long trails of what-ifs.The frustrating thing for an India fan is that the what-ifs aren’t just moments that weren’t in anyone’s control. So many of them, instead, concern decisions of selection and strategy that the team management made after careful deliberation.Take the consistent selection of three allrounders in India’s XIs, which, in theory, gives them batting depth until No. 8 as well as six bowling options. It’s one thing to pick such a team in India, where Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel are legitimate wicket-taking bowlers. To pick Jadeja, Washington and either Nitish Kumar Reddy or Shardul Thakur in Australia and England, at the cost of a fourth frontline wicket-taker, is an entirely different matter.It’s led India to lose control of Test matches from balanced or dominant positions, with the lack of wicket-taking depth haunting them at crucial stages at the MCG, the SCG, Headingley and Lord’s.India have lost four Tests at home under Gautam Gambhir•Getty ImagesIt’s also led to India overbowling their strike bowlers. A direct line can be drawn from India’s selections in Australia to the recurrence of Bumrah’s back issues at the end of that tour, and from there to his rationed appearances in England, which in turn, in concert with India’s stubborn insistence on playing three allrounders, led to Mohammed Siraj taking on a superhuman workload on that tour.The decision to enforce the follow-on against West Indies on a lifeless Delhi pitch last month also seemed consistent with this team management’s tendency to not worry about bowler workloads unless – as in the case of Bumrah in England – they’re forced to.The other strategy decision India have consistently made under Gambhir concerns their choice of home pitches. Every India head coach in recent times has turned to extreme pitches at some point or another when strong opponents have visited, but where defeats on such pitches often led his predecessors to rethink this approach, they have only made Gambhir double down.Now it’s usually a good thing to not let results sway your convictions. Gambhir’s obstinacy, in that sense, is commendable, and any statistician will tell you that four Test matches is too small a sample to prove or disprove his stated reason for wanting pitches with sharp, early turn – that they minimise toss advantage.

Eighteen Tests into his tenure, Gambhir has a record that does no justice to the players at his disposal. There is no indication that his position is under any threat, particularly given his fine white-ball record. Questions, however, might get asked if India lose this series against South Africa.

It can be said with a little more certainty, however, that extremely bowler-friendly pitches tend to narrow the skill gap between the stronger and weaker attack in those conditions. India were undoubtedly the attack with more quality, depth and experience of Indian conditions during their series against New Zealand last year. And while Simon Harmer was the best bowler on either side in Kolkata, India still had the better attack, collectively, for the conditions.Over a longer Test match, where seamers and spinners have to come back again and again and maintain their control and intensity over all those spells, which attack would you bet on? The one with Bumrah, Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Jadeja, Washington and Axar or the one with Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Corbin Bosch, Harmer and Keshav Maharaj? If India’s main wicket threats on a typical first-innings Indian pitch – Bumrah, Kuldeep and Jadeja – are all out of the attack, they would still be able to call on bowlers who would keep a lid on the scoring and keep batters in a state of high vigilance. The same wouldn’t necessarily be true of South Africa, even if you could swap in Kagiso Rabada for Bosch.Why play on minefields then?The answer to this may well be the same as the answer to the allrounders-instead-of-frontline-bowlers question: a lack of belief, a constant underestimation of the talent India have at their disposal.As useful as their batting depth was in England, it probably did not make up for their lack of wicket-taking edge at crucial moments, and India’s top order showed, even in their first series without Kohli and Rohit, that they did not need that extra security. And while India’s spinners can be unplayable on square turners, they can be a consistent threat on normal pitches too.All this almost seems obvious from the outside, but all of us with that outside perspective have little, if anything, at stake. Gambhir is right in the thick of it, and every win and loss goes on his CV. Being in that position can sometimes lead you to question if the resources you have are good enough, and to reach for seeming failsafes that guarantee nothing and come with hidden costs.Eighteen Tests into his tenure, Gambhir has a record that does no justice to the players at his disposal. There is no indication that his position is under any threat, particularly given his fine white-ball record. Questions, however, might get asked if India lose this series and leave themselves with a treacherous route to the World Test Championship final. It might be in his best interests, then, to start showing a little more trust in the quality of his players, and worry a little less about unseen dangers.

South Africa left-arm spinner’s celebration of a wicket lands her in trouble

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Oct-2025

Nonkululeko Mlaba picked up 2 for 46 in South Africa’s win over India•BCCI

South Africa left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba was handed a demerit point for breaching the ICC’s code of conduct during the match against India at the Women’s World Cup.The incident occurred in the 17th over of India’s innings, when Mlaba, after dismissing Harleen Deol, waved goodbye to the batter, which an ICC release on Saturday noted, “could have provoked an aggressive response”Mlaba was judged to have breached Article 2.5, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.”Related

• Pat Cummins might miss the first Test after being abducted by aliens

• South Africa eye NRR boost against Bangladesh

• De Klerk upstages Ghosh as South Africa win thriller

On-field umpires Jacquline Williams and Kim Cotton, third umpire Candace le Borde and fourth umpire Sue Redfern levelled the charge. Mlaba admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Trudy Anderson. The sanction also included an official reprimand.Mlaba will carry this demerit point into a 24-month period. When a player reaches four or more demerit points within this period, they can be suspended for one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first.South Africa clinched a thriller against India on Thursday, chasing down 252 to post their second win in three games of the World Cup. Mlaba picked up 2 for 46 in the game.

Victory by 89 runs sees Brave make it five from five, as Sophie Devine stars again

ECB Media18-Aug-2025Southern Brave 161 for 6 (Wolvaardt 36, Bouchier 34, Franklin 2-28) beat Oval Invincibles 72 (Villiers 3-17) by 89 runs Southern Brave produced a devastating all-round performance to inflict a record-breaking 89-run defeat on Oval Invincibles at Utilita Bowl to maintain their 100 per cent record and move top of the table.Set 162 for victory, the Invincibles could only muster 72, never recovering from a two-wicket burst by Sophie Devine (2 for 15) in her opening set, the Kiwi castling Meg Lanning with a peach before sending Lauren Winfield-Hill on her way three balls later.When Lauren Bell (2 for 11) struck with consecutive deliveries, utilising the short ball to great effect to induce edges from Alice Capsey and Paige Scholfield, the visitors slumped to 28 for 4 and they were eventually skittled in 83 balls, Mady Villiers picking up 3 for 17 with her off-breaks.Earlier, England duo Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge put on an opening stand of 59 after Brave were asked to bat, Bouchier the main aggressor in her innings of 34 from 23 before picking out Scholfield at deep mid-wicket to give Tash Farrant the breakthrough.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Wyatt-Hodge (26 from 24) was clean bowled by a Phoebe Franklin slower delivery but Laura Wolvaardt kept up the momentum, the South African cruising to a 19-ball 36 including a slog-swept six off Amanda-Jade Wellington but the Aussie leg-spinner had her revenge next ball when Lanning held on to a catch at extra-cover.Freya Kemp was involved in a mix-up which saw Devine run out for 19 but the England starlet made amends with a sparky cameo, smashing two sixes in her 11-ball 24 to post a target which was well beyond the Invincibles’ reach and set up a fifth straight victory for the 2023 champions.Meerkat Match Hero Sophie Devine, who picked up the award for a third game straight at Utilita Bowl, said: “I feel a bit embarrassed because today was a great team performance and there were so many people who should be standing here instead of me. Today was exceptional from this group and I’m really proud of everyone.”The great thing about this group is we’ve spoken at length about different plans and having the ability to be able to execute that is something I’ve found incredibly impressive. That should stand us in good stead come the important part of this tournament.”For us there’s a great focus on each and every game. We’ve got some tough games coming up but we’ll celebrate our success here today. It was a comprehensive win but we certainly know we’ve got a big job to finish off this competition strongly.”

Half-centuries for Lachlan Shaw and Josh Philippe helped NSW to a strong total

AAP23-Nov-2025

Tasmania opener Caleb Jewell stepped up with a century in the absence of Test debutant Jake Weatherald to put his side in a strong position in their Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales.Jewell’s 102, his ninth first-class century, lifted the visitors to 196 for 2 at Cricket Central at stumps on day two in reply to NSW’s 391 for 9 declared.Related

Patterson shines between the rain for New South Wales

Geyer shines on debut as Renshaw gets pink-ball test

Tasmania’s plans were disrupted by a concussion to allrounder Aidan O’Connor and a leg injury to fellow allrounder Mitch Owen on day one. They were replaced by pace bowler Jackson Bird and batter Charlie Wakim.The competition has this year introduced injury substitutes who can play in a game under set conditions, so Wakim will be able to bat.Tasmania opened their batting with left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann and he performed a sterling job in his knock of 21 supporting Jewell in a 56-run opening stand.Jewell, who pulled the ball with venom in an innings that included 11 boundaries, found another ally in Tim Ward, who finished the day unbeaten on 53.It was Jewell’s first Shield century of the summer and came at just the right time with regular opening partner Weatherald on Test duty.NSW had earlier resumed on 214 for 2 after a rain-interrupted opening day. Left-hander Kurtis Patterson added just one to his overnight tally before being run out for 80.From there the visitors were able to keep chipping away to take wickets at regular intervals but Lachlan Shaw and Josh Philippe ensured NSW reached a solid total before their declaration.Tasmania quick Riley Meredith finished with 3 for 77 to take his season tally to 15 wickets in just five innings. The consistency of the 29-year-old paceman has been a highlight this season where he has captured three wickets in an innings on five occasions.Meredith, who took a career-high 23 wickets in just six matches in the Shield last season, is returning to the form that led to him representing Australia in both ODI and T20Is.

From first-time captains to new venues, there’s plenty to look forward to

S Sudarshanan29-Sep-20252:06

Harmanpreet: ‘No pressure at all’ playing World Cup at home

There is an air of newness around the Women’s World Cup 2025.Harmanpreet Kaur and Alyssa Healy may now be synonymous as India and Australia captains, but this is their first ODI World Cup as captains – replacing the now-retired Mithali Raj and Meg Lanning, respectively. Nat Sciver-Brunt is only two series old as England’s skipper. Chamari Athapaththu will be playing her first 50-over ICC event in home conditions and Sri Lanka return to the competition after missing out in 2022.Off the field, the first cricket World Cup in Guwahati is less of a celebration. The city – and by extension the state of Assam, the gateway to north-east India – is mourning the loss of one of its own in singer Zubeen Garg, who passed away last week. Apart from his songs, he was known for his philanthropy.Durga Puja, a festival celebrated grandly in eastern India, has also been scaled down hugely. There won’t be the usual grand processions. For those living in Guwahati, the city itself feels very different. This is the unlikely backdrop for what promises to be a huge ICC event.Related

This World Cup promises to take women's cricket to brand-new heights

Athapaththu alone at the top as she carries Sri Lanka above her

Afghanistan women's players to attend World Cup opener

India and Sri Lanka kick off a Women's World Cup with a difference

Never mind that four of the five venues haven’t hosted a women’s game in recent years, the eight teams will vie for record prize money – a sum (USD 13.8 million) that is higher than what was at stake at the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup (USD 10 million). With the subcontinent hosting a Women’s ODI World Cup after 12 years, the level of competition is also expected to be higher. The WBBL has existed for close to a decade now, but this is the first time the effects of the various leagues such as the WPL and the Hundred will be seen.For instance, Sri Lanka beat India for only the third time in ODIs earlier this year. India, on their part, beat Australia for the first time at home and ended their 13-match winning streak.Chamari Athapaththu wants an Asian team to lift the trophy•AFP/Getty Images”We are playing in the subcontinent and that’s a good advantage for us,” Athapaththu said on the eve of the World Cup-opener against India. “But if we take too much pressure and think too much about this, we can’t play our best cricket.”From days of sparsely filled stadiums to endless demands for tickets, Harmanpreet has witnessed it all in her career. She has also suffered heartbreak in front of close to 90,000 people at the 2020 T20 World Cup final in Melbourne. With the DY Patil ground in Mumbai, that attracted close to 50,000 people during the WPL, pencilled in to host the final of this World Cup, she has a chance to be on the other side of the equation in what could be her last 50-over World Cup.”Firstly, earlier five fielders used to be outside, now there are four,” Harmanpreet joked when asked about the changes in women’s cricket over the last decade. “Besides that, we are playing in bigger stadiums – the last time we played at the CCI [Brabourne stadium in Mumbai]. The stadiums are packed every time we play. Apart from that, we also see a lot of 300-plus scores, which was not normal earlier. I could go on about it all night.”The exponential growth of the women’s game has everybody buzzing. “I want to see some Asian team lift the trophy,” Athapaththu said, “Maybe Sri Lanka, maybe India, maybe Pakistan, maybe Bangladesh. Every time Australia, England and New Zealand have been dominant. In Asia, cricket is like a second religion; it’s a privilege to play on home soil. So I want an Asian team to win.”India and Sri Lanka’s game at the ACA Stadium on Tuesday could well be the start of something new.

Baseball's rookie class of 2025 may have lacked the raw star power of its 2024 counterpart, but it gave fans no shortage of moments to remember.

Who can forget Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz's four-home run outing against the Astros on July 25? Or Braves catcher Drake Baldwin driving in six runs against the Giants? Or Brewers third baseman Caleb Durbin introducing himself to the baseball world with a walk-off home run in June?

Yes, we'll be talking about this class deep into October and beyond, as a number of postseason contenders received contributions from first-year players. On that note, it's time to anoint an All-Rookie team—a lineup of nine, three starting pitchers and a relief pitcher. Note, before we begin, that a few players are named in their secondary positions; this was in order to create the best lineups possible, and acknowledge that many players occupy quasi-utility roles in their rookie years.

Welcome to this final 2025 edition of MLB Rookie Watch.

Catcher: Drake Baldwin, Braves

The Braves—winners of nine in a row, including a sweep this weekend of the free-falling Tigers—never quit on a lost season. Similarly, Baldwin was undeterred in the face of adversity—namely a spirited, semi-ongoing battle for the catcher position with former All-Star Sean Murphy. The .462-slugging Missouri State product looks like a star in the making and should in all likelihood end 2025 holding the National League Rookie of the Year trophy aloft. Second Team: Carlos Narváez, Red Sox. Third Team: Edgar Quero, White Sox.

First Baseman: Nick Kurtz, Athletics

A .395/.480/.953 (that last number is not a typo) July propelled Kurtz from a curiosity to the owner of one of the great rookie seasons of the 21st century. His four-home run game, in which he went 6-for-6 and drove in eight runs, has a strong case as the greatest individual performance by a rookie in history. The Athletics may have left Oakland, but the team clearly carried some of ex-general manager Billy Beane's talent-discovery DNA to Sacramento. Second Team: Liam Hicks, Marlins. Third Team: Eric Wagaman, Marlins.

Second Baseman: Luke Keaschall, Twins

If there was a bright spot to be gleaned from the Twins' July firesale, it's that it opened the door for the stunning emergence of the team's 2023 second-round pick. Slamming shut a revolving door at his position (Minnesota used eight second basemen this year), Keaschall has slashed .304/.380/.448 and paced for 6.9 bWAR over 162 games. A 48-game sample size is admittedly small, but his gifts should have the Land of 10,000 Lakes dreaming of a new star. Second Team: Hyeseong Kim, Dodgers. Third Team: Javier Sanoja, Marlins.

Third Baseman: Caleb Durbin, Brewers

It wasn't always roses for Durbin in his debut season—he had to weather a .202 May—but he will end the year as a critical cog on baseball's best team. Building on a run of early clutch success, he became a two-way force at third base—he currently wields the third-lowest strikeout lead in the NL the second-most zone runs among NL third basemen. Unlike many rookies listed here, his story isn't over yet (as this charming story by Avery Meer in the student paper of his academics-minded alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis, outlines). Second Team: Jeremiah Jackson, Orioles. Third Team: Matt Shaw, Cubs.

Shortstop: Jacob Wilson, Athletics

The original star of his team's Sacramento jaunt, Wilson burst out of the gate with a .345/.387/.495 slash line through the end of May. As late as June 8, he was hitting a sizzling .372; fans responded by electing him a second-generation All-Star 21 years after his father. Yes, Kurtz ultimately eclipsed him, but Wilson's still-robust .315 average and .806 OPS give the Athletics an embarrassment of riches. Second Team: Colson Montgomery, White Sox. Third Team: Chase Meidroth, White Sox.

Left Fielder: Isaac Collins, Brewers

He may be the unlikeliest member of the team, what with his 5' 8", 188-pound frame and his ninth-round draft selection by the prospect-graveyard Rockies in 2019. Defying fans' most optimistic expectations—Milwaukee has spent the entire year doing that, hasn't it?—Collins took home NL Rookie of the Month honors in July on his way to a .262/.364/.409 campaign. He might be getting a bit lucky (his BABIP is .322), but there's enough to like to hat-tip a second Brewer after Durbin. Second Team: Heriberto Hernandez, Marlins. Third Team: Otto Kemp, Phillies.

Center Fielder: Jakob Marsee, Marlins

What the Athletics had in rookie quality this year, the Marlins had in quantity. The Dearborn, Mich., native and Central Michigan product was summoned to the big leagues Aug. 1 and immediately looked like he'd been there his entire life (he slashed .352/.430/.629 with four home runs and 25 RBIs in August). Michael Baumann of FanGraphsastutely pointed out that Marsee has feasted on a diet of bad pitching that month, but Miami fans will take any glimmer of hope at this point. Second Team: Jake Mangum, Rays. Third Team: Chandler Simpson, Rays.

Right Fielder: Roman Anthony, Red Sox

Red Sox fans are still mourning the news they received Sept. 3—that an oblique strain would end Anthony's regular season. What a regular season, it was, though: .292/.396/.463 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs in 71 games (to go with a mouth-watering 7.1-per-162 games bWAR rate). As of Aug. 6, Anthony is under contract through 2033 with a club option for 2034—so don't touch that dial. Second Team: Daylen Lile, Nationals. Third Team: Cam Smith, Astros.

Designated Hitter: Kyle Teel, White Sox

As alluded to in the introduction, this is cheating a little bit—Teel is first and foremost a catcher. However, he's DH-ed just enough that he gets a spot on the first team guilt-free after a widely overlooked offensive season. Since the start of August, the Virginia product has very quietly raised his slugging percentage from .392 to .423—helping the White Sox show signs of life here and there, such as during a six-game winning streak around Labor Day. Second Team: Jasson Domínguez, Yankees. Third Team: Agustín Ramírez, Marlins.

No. 1 Starting Pitcher: Cade Horton, Cubs

A furious finish to 2025 gives Horton a crown that almost assuredly would have belonged to Royals pitcher Noah Cameron (more on him in a minute) as recently as a month ago. Since the calendar turned to July, Horton has been absolutely filthy: 8–2 with a 1.29 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 70 innings. He hasn't allowed more than two runs in a game since before the All-Star break. Second Team: Chad Patrick, Brewers. Third Team: Shane Smith, White Sox.

No. 2 Starting Pitcher: Noah Cameron, Royals

He was the best rookie starting pitcher in baseball for the vast majority of 2025, single-handedly keeping an injury-ravaged Kansas CIty staff solvent for longer than it had any right to be. The Missouri native and Central Arkansas product pitched 6 2/3 sterling innings against the Blue Jays in front of his parents Saturday, receiving a deserved standing ovation for his efforts. A 9–7 record with a 2.90 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 133 2/3 innings is the kind of start that will keep him on the Royals' radar for years to come. Second Team: Cam Schlittler, Yankees. Third Team: Will Warren, Yankees

No. 3 Starting Pitcher: Hurston Waldrep, Braves

He barely clears this team's threshold for inclusion—you need to pitch 48 innings; he's thrown 50 1/3—but his jaw-dropping August and role in Atlanta's late-season surge demands acknowledgement. Starting six games in August, Waldrep went 4–0 with a 1.01 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings. His numbers would hew significantly closer to that if not for an eight-run adventure against the Astros on Sept. 12. Second Team: Jack Leiter, Rangers. Third Team: Joey Cantillo, Guardians.

Relief Pitcher: Matt Svanson, Cardinals

No true shutdown rookie closer emerged this year, so this spot goes to Svanson—an eminently competent middle reliever for the Cardinals who has thrived since a July trip to Triple-A Memphis. Svanson is 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 57 innings this year, by-the-book power-relief numbers that mask how effective he's been of late (a 1.16 ERA since July 28). A future closing doesn't look impossible for a man with 28 minor-league saves in 2024. Second Team: Braxton Ashcraft, Pirates. Third Team: Braydon Fisher, Blue Jays.

The MLB is investigating Atlanta Braves assistant coach Eddie Pérez after he apparently gestured towards his head while in the midst of a squabble with New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. during the Yankees' 12–9 victory on Saturday night at Truist Park, according to .

The back-and-forth between Pérez and Chisholm occurred in the sixth inning, and seemed to stem from the Yankees second baseman's actions while he was standing on second base. Chisholm, in what is legal within the rulebook, appeared to be relaying signs to Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe while dancing off second base.

The Yankees had done something similar during a July 10 game against the Seattle Mariners.

Evidently, Pérez took exception to Chisholm's apparent sign-stealing. While standing on third base, Chisholm demonstratively exchanged words with Pérez. When he arrived back in the Yankees dugout after scoring New York's sixth run of the game, a still-incensed Chisholm kept pointing at his own head and gesturing back at the Braves dugout. Yankees announcers Michael Kay and Joe Girardi wondered whether Chisholm felt Pérez was threatening that Atlanta may throw at his head the next time he stepped to the plate.

But the Braves coach denied threatening Chisholm.

"I was just saying, ‘Be smart,’" Pérez told MLB.com. "I like that guy. He’s one of my favorites. And he got mad about it. I don’t know why he got mad about it. So I was like, ‘Take it easy,’ and he started doing some [stuff]."

Yankees manager Aaron Boone, while speaking to reporters after Saturday's game, made clear that if Pérez was indeed threatening Chisholm, that such a move has no place in baseball.

"I hope it didn’t, because obviously there’s no place for that," Boone told MLB.com. "And that’s certainly something that would not be O.K. So I hope he didn’t mean anything like that by it, because that would deserve some looking into."

It appears that MLB is doing its due diligence.

Chisholm, for his part, declined to comment on the incident with Pérez on Saturday and again before the Yankees' 4–2 win on Sunday.