In a season where the Braves finished with a disappointing 76-86 record, their worst since 2017, something remarkable still managed to shine through the cracks. On Monday, catcher Drake Baldwin was officially named the National League Rookie of the Year, a singular honor that not only salvaged a rough campaign but also carved his name into the history books of one of baseball’s proudest franchises.
Baldwin Joins Rare Company Among MLB Catchers
At just 24 years old, Baldwin didn’t merely perform; he delivered with rare consistency and poise, especially for someone playing one of the most demanding positions on the field. In fact, his win puts him in an elite and exclusive group. Across the entire history of Major League Baseball, only 10 catchers have ever won Rookie of the Year honors. That’s it. Baldwin joins the likes of Buster Posey — the last catcher to claim the award, back in 2010, in a fraternity defined by both toughness and talent.
The Braves’ Rookie of the Year Streak Continues
For the Braves, this is becoming something of a tradition. Baldwin now stands alongside teammates Ronald Acuña Jr. (2018) and Michael Harris II (2022) as the third Atlanta player in less than a decade to win the award. But unlike those two outfielders, Baldwin’s ascent comes from behind the plate, a position not typically associated with offensive fireworks, especially from rookies.
But fireworks he gave.
A .274 batting average, 19 home runs, 80 RBI, and a solid .810 OPS don’t just look good for a first-year catcher; they look great across the board. He tallied 111 hits in just 124 games, including 18 doubles and a .341 OBP, signaling not just power, but patience and presence at the plate. Baldwin’s 19 homers are the second-most ever by a Braves rookie catcher, trailing only Earl Williams, who mashed 33 in 1971.
In a Down Year, Baldwin’s Brilliance Offers a Beacon
What makes Baldwin’s impact even more profound is the context. This Braves team wasn’t the juggernaut fans had come to expect since their 2021 World Series title. For the first time in eight years, Atlanta missed the postseason. And yet, amid the struggles, Baldwin gave fans a reason to keep watching, and now, a reason to keep believing.
Because if 2025 was the year of the catcher in MLB, it was Baldwin who stood tallest behind the plate. And in a season where the team record suggests mediocrity, his performance was anything but. For a franchise that’s recently made Rookie of the Year awards feel almost routine, Baldwin’s season still manages to stand out, not just for what he achieved, but for what he represents: hope, talent, and the kind of foundational brilliance that can turn a rebuild into a resurgence.
