Atlanta Braves rookie Drake Baldwin is the frontrunner for 2025 NL Rookie of the Year. See the stats that make him the team's brightest star this season.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
In a season that has tested the resolve of Braves Country, a new star is rising from behind the plate. Catcher Drake Baldwin isn't just having a good rookie season; he's authoring one of the best in the National League, providing a much-needed spark and a legitimate chase for hardware as the team navigates the daily grind of a challenging 2025 campaign.
When they’re playing well, they gain playing time.
Drake Baldwin has become the must-watch story for the Braves. As of Monday, he leads all qualified NL rookies with a .282 average, 11 home runs, 41 RBI, and an impressive 2.0 fWAR. While he's cooled off slightly since a scorching start, his overall performance has been a revelation. His path to the Rookie of the Year award also became significantly clearer with the recent injury to Brewers pitching prospect Jacob Misiorowski, one of his main competitors. Baldwin is no longer just a nice story; he's the frontrunner.
Baldwin's emergence is critical for a farm system ranked 28th in the league. Alongside right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver, he represents the high-end talent Atlanta is banking on for its next chapter. As Alex Anthopoulos noted, performance dictates opportunity: 'Murph and Baldwin got hot and they [both] started playing... When they’re playing well, they gain playing time.' While the system boasts pitching depth, the lack of impact bats behind Baldwin underscores his importance and the front office's challenge in reloading the lineup for the future.
The backdrop for Baldwin's rise is the team's current struggle, exemplified by Monday's series opener against the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers. Entering the game at 47-63, the Braves sent the struggling Erick Fedde (3-11, 5.33 ERA) to the mound to face a potent lineup featuring Christian Yelich. While the result was not yet final late Monday, the matchup against the 67-44 Brewers was a stark reminder of the team's current standing and the tough road ahead for veterans like Matt Olson and Austin Riley.
While the final score against Milwaukee remained pending as of Monday night, the real story of this Braves season is becoming clearer. It's about finding wins where you can, whether on the scoreboard or in the development of a future star like Drake Baldwin. Keep an eye on his at-bats and the outcome of this tough series—the future of the franchise is on display every single night.
