Braves Rookie Catcher’s First Season Was Truly Historic

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00:00Braves' rookie catcher's first season was truly historic.

00:04Despite the Braves' disappointing 76-86 finish, their worst since 2017,

00:10catcher Drake Baldwin brought a bright spot by earning the National League Rookie of the Year title,

00:15cementing his place in the franchise's history.

00:18At just 24, Baldwin delivered with rare consistency and poise at one of baseball's most demanding positions.

00:25Across MLB history, only 10 catchers have ever won Rookie of the Year.

00:28That's it.

00:30He joins the likes of Buster Posey, the last catcher to claim the award, back in 2010.

00:36The announcement came Monday.

00:37It was a singular honor.

00:39For the Braves, this is becoming something of a tradition.

00:43Baldwin now stands alongside teammates Ronald Acuna Jr., 2018,

00:48and Michael Harris II., 2022, as the third Atlanta player in less than a decade to win the award.

00:55But unlike those two outfielders, Baldwin's ascent comes from behind the plate,

01:00a position not typically associated with offensive fireworks, especially from rookies.

01:06But fireworks he gave.

01:08He hit .274 with 19 home runs, 80 RBI, a .810 OPS, and 111 hits in 124 games,

01:16including 18 doubles and a .341 OBP.

01:19Baldwin's 19 homers are the second most ever by a Braves rookie catcher,

01:24trailing only Earl Williams, who mashed .33 in 1971.

01:28What makes Baldwin's impact even more profound is the context.

01:33This Braves team wasn't the juggernaut fans had come to expect since their 2021 World Series title.

01:39Atlanta finished .76-86.

01:42For the first time in eight years, Atlanta missed the postseason.

01:46And yet, amid the struggles, Baldwin gave fans a reason to keep watching,

01:51and now, a reason to keep believing.

01:54Because if 2025 was the year of the catcher in MLB,

01:58it was Baldwin who stood tallest behind the plate.

02:01In a season where the team record suggests mediocrity, his performance was anything but.

02:06For a franchise that's recently made Rookie of the Year awards feel almost routine,

02:10Baldwin's season still manages to stand out for what he represents – hope, talent, and foundational brilliance.