If you weren’t already keeping an eye on Drake Baldwin, it’s time to start. The young catcher has been making serious noise in the Atlanta Braves organization.
Now, he’s got a serious stamp of approval from none other than Chris Sale, the reigning National League Cy Young winner.
That’s not a casual compliment. When a veteran like Sale takes the time to highlight a prospect’s work ethic, you know there’s something special brewing.
A Strong First Impression Behind the Plate
Sale and Baldwin teamed up for the first time in a recent Spring Training matchup against the Minnesota Twins. Right out of the gate, the chemistry was there.
The game itself ended in a scoreless tie, but the real story was how well these two clicked. Sale, who has been around the game long enough to recognize talent when he sees it, had nothing but glowing praise for the 24-year-old backstop.
“Just seeing him on a day-to-day basis, it’s fun for me,” Sale said. “He’s always in the weight room. He has an unbelievable work ethic. He has a great routine from what I’ve seen. He’s around all the right guys, and that’s what you want from a young guy who’s in the position to take over a very, very important position.”
And it wasn’t just talk—Baldwin backed it up on the field. Behind the plate, he guided Sale through four no-hit innings, allowing just one walk and a hit-by-pitch while striking out four. Sale was in control, throwing 59 pitches—40 of them for strikes.
That’s 67.8% for those keeping track at home, a strong number for early March. For a young catcher, being able to handle a high-caliber ace like Sale is no small feat.
Showing Plate Discipline at the Dish
Baldwin didn’t have a huge game at the plate statistically, going 0-for-1 with a walk, but his at-bats were solid.
His only out came on a grounder to first in the second inning, but the patience he showed with the walk speaks to the plate discipline that’s quickly becoming his calling card.
By the way, that patience has been a defining trait throughout his rise in the Braves’ system. So far in Spring Training, he’s hitting .308 with a .856 OPS, two RBIs, and three runs scored—numbers that are starting to turn heads.
But the excitement makes even more sense if you look back at his 2024 season in the minors.
A Rising Star in the Braves System
Last year, Baldwin represented Atlanta in the prestigious Futures Game during All-Star Weekend and reached Triple-A for the first time. That’s where he really started to make noise.
In 72 games at the highest level of the minors, he slashed .298/.407/.484 with a .891 OPS, 12 home runs, and 55 RBIs. But perhaps the most impressive part? His plate discipline.
He struck out just 16.2% of the time, walking 52 times compared to 54 strikeouts. For a young hitter, that kind of balance is rare.
That late-season performance earned him the title of Braves Minor League Player of the Year from Baseball America, and now, he’s firmly in the conversation as Atlanta’s top prospect.
MLB.com hasn’t released the Braves’ updated Top 30 list just yet, but Baldwin is already the highest-ranked Atlanta prospect in their Top 100.
Braves Are Paying Close Attention To Baldwin in 2025
With the Braves eyeing another deep postseason run, the development of Baldwin is something to watch closely.
If he keeps trending in this direction, it won’t be long before he’s making an impact at the big-league level.
And if Chris Sale’s glowing endorsement is any indication, the Braves may have found their catcher of the future.
