Call it a breakout, a statement, or simply confirmation of what Braves fans were already starting to believe—Drake Baldwin is for real. For the first time since 2022, an Atlanta Braves rookie has earned National League Rookie of the Month honors, and it’s Baldwin standing tall atop the May leaderboard.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Let’s take a closer look at just how dominant Baldwin was in May:
- .389 batting average
- .411 OBP / .593 slugging / .436 wOBA
- Three home runs
- Nine RBI and 21 hits in 56 plate appearances
- 181 wRC+, which essentially means he was 81% better than the league average at the plate last month
And he did all of this while serving as a rookie catcher, one of the most demanding positions in all of sports. That’s not just impressive—that’s elite.
What’s even more encouraging is how Baldwin’s bat seemed to explode after a cold stretch that masked how well he’d actually been hitting the ball early in the year. The contact was there. The approach was sharp. He was just getting unlucky—until May hit, and then so did Baldwin.
A Rookie Honor with Real Weight
This isn’t just an award. It’s a torch-passing moment. Baldwin is now the 12th Braves rookie to take home Rookie of the Month honors, joining names that are basically modern Atlanta royalty:
- Jason Heyward
- Craig Kimbrel
- Freddie Freeman
- Ronald Acuña Jr.
- Austin Riley
- Michael Harris II and Spencer Strider, who shared the spotlight in 2022
This is a club you want to be in—and one that typically leads to big things. Baldwin’s trajectory is looking similar to the paths those players followed. He’s made a quick impact, with a loud bat, and has rapidly rising expectations.
The Bigger Picture for Atlanta
Baldwin’s emergence couldn’t have come at a better time for a Braves team currently trying to weather injuries and rediscover consistency. Not only has he added a spark to the offense, but he’s given Atlanta options—resting Sean Murphy, slotting both catchers into the lineup, and keeping the DH spot flexible if needed.
Beyond that, it validates Atlanta’s player development machine, which continues to churn out elite talent even in seasons when the roster hits bumps.
Braves Looking Ahead With Baldwin
Drake Baldwin entered May like a question mark and exited like a certified lion. If he continues to put up numbers like these—and if his defense and game-calling sharpen as expected—this could be just the first of many accolades in a career that’s already off to a blazing start.
