The Atlanta Braves continue to demonstrate confidence in their farm system, recently promoting one of their top position player prospects, catcher Drake Baldwin, to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Despite not being highly ranked overall, the Braves’ farm system has shown promise at the upper levels, with several recent promotions, including pitchers Hurston Waldrep and Spencer Schwellenbach advancing to the major leagues.
Drake Baldwin’s Progress
Drake Baldwin, a 23-year-old catcher, was drafted in the third round in 2022. Last season, he showcased significant potential by hitting 16 home runs and posting an .844 OPS across three minor league levels.
However, his performance at Double-A Mississippi this year has been less impressive, batting .244 with four home runs and a .650 OPS. Despite these numbers, Baldwin has demonstrated his ability to drive in runs, accumulating 10 RBIs in his last six games, including a home run and a double.
The promotion to Gwinnett indicates the Braves’ belief in Baldwin’s potential to develop further. Currently, Atlanta’s major league roster features catchers Travis d’Arnaud and Sean Murphy, which means Baldwin is unlikely to make an immediate impact in the majors. However, with d’Arnaud aging, Baldwin might soon become a significant contributor alongside Murphy.
In conjunction with Baldwin’s promotion, the Braves made additional roster moves, sending catcher Sebastian Rivero down to Double-A Mississippi and activating pitcher Tommy Doyle from the 7-day Injured List.
These adjustments reflect the organization’s ongoing efforts to optimize their minor league rosters and prepare for future needs at the major league level.
Baldwin’s progress will be closely monitored as he adapts to Triple-A pitching, and his performance in Gwinnett could accelerate his timeline for reaching the majors.
For now, the Braves and their fans will watch with interest as one of their top prospects takes another step towards potentially becoming a key player for Atlanta in the near future.
