Baldwin's Star Rising 'Like Night and Day'

Drake Baldwin's journey to Spring Training this year feels surreal, knowing he's now the Braves’ top prospect with a potential Major League debut on the horizon. Reflecting on his progress, Baldwin said, “I definitely didn’t think I’d be in this spot three years ago. It’s pretty cool.” Selected by the Braves in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft, Baldwin has spent the past few years proving his worth beyond just his bat. The 23-year-old catcher has climbed the ranks to become MLB Pipeline’s No. 63 overall prospect. As the 2025 Braves Top 30 Prospects list is set to be released on Monday, Baldwin will claim the top spot, a testament to his impressive performance, including a .298 average, 12 home runs, and a .891 OPS over 334 plate appearances for Triple-A Gwinnett last season.
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Braves starting pitcher Ian Anderson has high praise for Baldwin, emphasizing his work ethic and locker room presence. “He’s awesome. I could stand here all day and talk about him. He’s so good in the locker room, and he loves being around the field. He’s one of the first guys to show up and one of the last guys to leave. I think that goes a long way for that position. He can hit. He’s probably one of the better hitting prospects I’ve seen.” Baldwin’s talent was on full display during last summer’s Futures Game when he hit an opposite-field home run, the game’s hardest-hit ball, traveling 411 feet at 107.3 mph off the bat. As Baldwin continues to rise, the baseball world eagerly anticipates what he’ll achieve next.