"Drake Baldwin won the 2025 NL ROY award, and his inclusion on the roster and qualifying roster-time requirements allowed the Braves to gain an extra first round draft choice in the 2026 amateur draft. For the season, Baldwin posted a 125 wRC+ at the place behind a .274/.341/.469 slash line that included 19 home runs and 80 RBI in 124 games."
"Offensively, he excelled, with most of his batted-ball metrics placing him in the top 18-percent of the league. His Baseball Savant page in littered with bright red - a good thing, for those unfamiliar - with his bat speed, average exit velocity and hard hit-percentages amongst his best overall offensive traits."
"Murphy's injury opened the door for Baldwin to prove he belonged in big leagues. Despite a slow offensive start that was buoyed by positive underlying metrics, Baldwin more than held his own behind the plate while bringing an outstanding offensive profile to the Braves lineup."
The Atlanta Braves feature an exceptionally deep catching roster for 2026, anchored by Drake Baldwin, the 2025 National League Rookie of the Year. Baldwin emerged as the starter after Sean Murphy's rib injury opened an opportunity for his debut. In his rookie season, Baldwin demonstrated strong offensive production with a 125 wRC+, .274/.341/.469 slash line, 19 home runs, and 80 RBIs across 124 games. His batted-ball metrics ranked in the top 18 percent league-wide, with exceptional bat speed and exit velocity. Defensively, he caught 85 games with strong pitch-blocking abilities, though his framing and pop time were average. The catching group also includes multiple All-Stars and Gold Glove winners, plus veteran depth, though health remains a primary concern for the position group.
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