The Atlanta Braves may be chasing a postseason spot, but rookie catcher Drake Baldwin is chasing history—and right now, he’s winning that race.
MLB released its latest National League Rookie of the Year poll, and Baldwin didn’t just top the list—he dominated it.
The 24-year-old received 24 first-place votes, blowing past the competition. The next closest contender, Dodgers utility man Hyeseong Kim, only pulled in three. Marlins slugger Agustín Ramírez and Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw rounded out the vote-getters with two and one vote apiece.
A Rocket Rise For the Braves Rookie
Just last month, Baldwin wasn’t even the top rookie on his own team. That title belonged to AJ Smith-Shawver, his fellow rookie—and battery mate. But after Smith-Shawver underwent Tommy John surgery, Baldwin slid into the spotlight. And so far? He’s handling it like a seasoned pro.
May was his mic-drop moment. Baldwin hit a blistering .389 with a 1.004 OPS, smacking three homers and driving in nine runs. That performance earned him National League Rookie of the Month honors and vaulted him into the national conversation.
But baseball’s a six-month gauntlet, and June hasn’t been as kind. Baldwin’s hitting just .167 in 33 plate appearances this month with a sluggish .567 OPS. A slump was bound to happen—it always does for rookies—but how quickly he rebounds will define how long he stays at the front of the Rookie of the Year race.
Catching Fire While Sharing Time
Here’s the other wrinkle: playing time. Baldwin’s strong bat has made headlines, but he’s still splitting starts with veteran Sean Murphy. That’s been the talking point all season. Baldwin’s average and OPS are great—.285 and .800, respectively—but if he doesn’t keep getting consistent reps, that could give other rookies a chance to close the gap.
Especially when guys like Liam Hicks (who leads rookie bats in OPS) or Kim (with his Swiss Army knife defense and speed) are logging daily innings. Voters notice production, yes—but they also notice presence. And Baldwin, while efficient, hasn’t been quite the everyday man yet.
Still the Front-Runner for Now
Even so, the writers are clearly all in. Despite the June dip, Baldwin’s name rose to the top and wasn’t particularly close. They see the upside. The contact skills. The poise behind the plate. The intangibles that don’t always show up on the stat sheet. And when you consider he’s excelling at one of the hardest positions in the sport? That says something.
The next few weeks will be pivotal. If Baldwin can find his May groove again and snag more consistent starts, the hardware might be his to lose. But if the slump lingers and others surge? This Rookie of the Year race could tighten up fast.
For now, Drake Baldwin leads the pack—bat, glove, and vote count. And in Atlanta, he’s quickly becoming a reason to keep believing in the Braves.
