Drake Baldwin Named Atlanta Braves Top Prospect

Following a breakout year in the Minors, Baldwin has been named the Bravest top prospect by a notable baseball publication

Drake Baldwin's stock as prospect is on the rise / Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The honors keep coming for the Atlanta Braves catching prospect Drake Baldwin. According to Baseball America, the team’s top-catching prospect is now their top prospect overall. 

NEW BRAVES PROSPECT RANKINGS 🚨

Atlanta's 2025 Top 10 is here. You can find:

⚾️ Drake Baldwin No. 1
⚾️ New scouting reports for every player
⚾️ Best tools + projected lineup
⚾️ Chat at 2 p.m. EThttps://t.co/UV1WEmim7D pic.twitter.com/9r5R1GmqT9

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) November 4, 2024

The baseball publication has been high on the 23-year-old as of late. He was named the Braves Minor League Player of the Year in 2024 back in September. 

Baldwin was ranked as the No. 5 Braves prospect on MLB.com last season. However, this could change with the season that Baldwin had. 

In 72 Triple-A games, Baldwin batted .298 with an .891 OPS, 12 home runs and 55 RBIs. His on-base percentage was .407. He showed solid plate discipline with a 16.2% strikeout rate. He had nearly as many walks (52) as strikeouts (54).

He continues to tear up the Arizona Fall League. Through 13 games, he has a slash line of .377/.453/.491 with one home run and nine RBIs. His plate discipline remains phenomenal with a 14.5% strikeout rate. He has 20 hits to nine strikeouts. These days, that feels like a monumental achievement. 

For example, Marcell Ozuna had 180 hits and 171 strikeouts. At Baldwin’s strikeout rate, he would have only struck out 99 times. This discipline will be a major point of value when he gets to Atlanta - which could be soon. 

It’s been assumed that he will make his debut with the Braves in 2025 - presumably in a third catcher role when either Sean Murphy or Travis d’Arnaud would be unavailable.

However, early offseason moves could be fast-tracking him to a full-time member of the active roster. The Braves have reportedly declined d’Arnaud’s club option for next season. Since Muphy is significantly younger - 30 vs 35 - and under contract until the end of the decade, d’Arnaud was the odd man out if the Braves were to move on from a catcher. 

The Braves must have the confidence in Baldwin to move off a d’Arnaud, even at an affordable $8 million for next season.