Drake Baldwin: Braves 2024 Minor League Player Of The Year
Drake Baldwin was long viewed as a potential riser in for the Braves.
This season, the 23-year-old, lefthanded-hitting catcher has risen.
Baldwin hit .276/.370/.423 with 16 home runs in 124 games across Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett. He truly began to shine at the higher level, connecting for 12 of his home runs.
Baldwin routinely hits the ball hard. He has trimmed his strikeout rate. As a cherry on top, he homered at the Futures Game to earn national attention for his rise.
“I want to say it’s always been in there,” Baldwin said at the Futures Game. “I’m just gaining a little bit of confidence once you start seeing some of the balls land and leave the park. Just trusting my swing and trusting what I’m doing.”
Baldwin has credited Braves catching coach Sal Fasano and the team’s veteran catchers Travis d’Arnaud and Sean Murphy for helping him defensively in spring training. He’s shown steady improvement there.
All this is to say: Baldwin has gone from possible major leaguer to potential starting backstop if he remains on this trajectory. After trading away both William Contreras and Shea Langeliers, the Braves have another budding catcher who could secure a future role.
“I’ve never been part of another organization, so I don’t know a ton about what else is out there, but the Braves—I can’t think of many (franchises) that would be better,” said Baldwin, a 2022 third-round pick out of Missouri State.
“Just the camaraderie from the top down. The big league guys being willing to talk with the minor league guys and help us out. Then obviously (the Braves) want us to get to the big league level, and they aren’t afraid to promote guys.
“I notice that with myself a little bit. Even getting to Triple-A faster than I was expecting. It gives you a level of confidence that you’re a call away. So you’re always working trying to be ready for that call.”
SHORT NOTES
— Shortstop Nacho Alvarez Jr., who hit .284 over the two-highest minor league levels, was the other candidate for Braves minor league player of the year. Alvarez enjoyed a breakout season offensively that earned him a brief major league stint. While he wasn’t quite ready to help the win-now Braves, this season was a sizable step forward for him.
His long-term future remains a question, though. The Braves have their infield largely set. They could upgrade at shortstop after Orlando Arcia’s pedestrian season, but Alvarez might not have the range to man that position over the long haul. He could be the franchise’s top trade chip this winter.
— It’ll be interesting to see what happens with the team’s top two pitching prospects, AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep. Both were leapfrogged by the surprising Spencer Schwellenbach, who has cemented himself in the 2025 rotation. Chris Sale and Reynaldo Lopez are also under contract, while Max Fried and Charlie Morton are free agents.
Certainly, the Braves will want to add at least one proven starter. Would they provide an opportunity for one of their younger arms to try winning a spot in spring training? It’s an important offseason for Smith-Shawver and Waldrep. Like Alvarez, either could be a reasonable trade piece.
