Atlanta Braves fans, the team’s top-catching prospect, Drake Baldwin, is making waves. His journey to the majors seems more like a sprint than a marathon. This 23-year-old dynamo has just been crowned the Braves’ top prospect overall by Baseball America, overtaking his former No. 5 spot on MLB.com’s list.
I’s no surprise he’s getting all this attention with the 2024 season he’s had. Baldwin’s performance has been nothing short of sensational, earning him the Braves Minor League Player of the Year award back in September. He’s showing no signs of slowing down either.
Let’s talk about Baldwin’s stats, they’re enough to light up any baseball fan’s eyes. In 72 games at Triple-A, Baldwin posted a stellar .298 batting average with an impressive .891 OPS. Consistency at the plate and discipline are already setting Drake Baldwin apart with 12 home runs, 55 RBIs, and a jaw-dropping on-base percentage of .407.
His strikeout rate? Just 16.2%, which is practically unheard of these days. And get this: he almost had as many walks (52) as strikeouts (54). This kid isn’t just swinging for the fences – he’s showing maturity and precision that’s rare in a player his age.
And as if that wasn’t enough, Baldwin’s been dominating in the Arizona Fall League, where through 13 games, he’s hitting .377 with a .453 OBP and a .491 slugging percentage. His plate discipline remains strong, with a 14.5% strikeout rate and 20 hits to just nine strikeouts.
To put that in perspective, MLB’s own Marcell Ozuna had a close call between his hits (180) and strikeouts (171) last season. If Ozuna struck out at Baldwin’s rate, he’d have only about 99 strikeouts – a level of discipline that would boost any team.
Here’s where it gets exciting for Braves fans. Baldwin’s breakout season and disciplined performance could mean he’s closer to Atlanta than expected. Originally, it looked like Baldwin would debut in a supporting role as the team’s third catcher, filling in when either Sean Murphy or Travis d’Arnaud was unavailable.
But in a recent turn of events, the Braves declined d’Arnaud’s option for next season. This is possibly signaling a major shift in their catching plans. Travis d’Arnaud became the odd man out despite his reasonable $8 million price tag with Murphy locked in until the end of the decade.
This move suggests that the Braves have serious confidence in Baldwin’s readiness for the big leagues. Cutting ties with a solid veteran like d’Arnaud is a bold move. It shows that Baldwin’s potential might make him a mainstay in the Braves lineup as early as 2025.
Fans can expect Drake Baldwin to bring his disciplined approach, power, and impressive eye for pitches straight to Atlanta, potentially making him an immediate impact player. Baldwin’s journey continues in the Arizona Fall League, but Atlanta could be right around the corner.
