PHOENIX — Drake Baldwin has had a busy 2024 already with stops in Double-A Mississippi, Triple-A Gwinnett and Peoria within the Arizona Fall League. That itinerary is about so as to add a couple of worldwide stops.
“I’ve by no means performed for Group USA, and it is undoubtedly been a dream of mine to put on ‘USA’ throughout my chest,” the Wisconsin native stated. “So I am tremendous excited.”
The the reason why supervisor Mike Scioscia and the USA Baseball workers selected the 23-year-old catcher are clear. He was one of many best-performing offensive backstops within the Minors in the course of the common season, ending with a .276/.370/.423 line and 16 homers in 124 video games between Double-A and Triple-A. He was even higher on the Minors’ prime degree with Gwinnett: .298/.407/.484 over 334 plate appearances.
The underlying information backed up the slash line. Baldwin led Triple-A catchers (min. 1,000 pitches seen) with a 93.1 mph common exit velocity and 51.9 p.c hard-hit price. For reference, no Main League catcher had a hard-hit price larger than 50.0 p.c this season below the identical playing-time constraints.
Baldwin’s stroll price additionally jumped from 9.2 p.c with Mississippi to fifteen.6 with Gwinnett, and he thinks his eye contributes simply as a lot to his in-game energy as his pure power as a left-handed hitter.
“I believe the most important factor is simply swinging at good pitches,” Baldwin stated. “I believe that is one thing I’ve achieved fairly nicely, simply swinging at pitches over the plate. In the event that they’re balls, you are in all probability not going to hit them too onerous. So swinging at the very best pitches and getting my ‘A’ swing off as a lot as I can [are big].”
Baldwin has continued to hone his craft within the Fall League, particularly of late. After going 2-for-3 with two walks in Peoria’s 7-6 win over Salt River in seven innings at American Household Fields on Saturday, the 2022 third-rounder has reached base 9 occasions in his final two video games, pushing his AFL slash line to .372/.438/.512 by way of 10 contests.
The current surge got here from a mechanical adjustment he made within the field as Baldwin tries to construct Main League readiness.
“Get my nostril in there, stand just a little taller on my bottom and simply attempt to swing on the pitches I do know I can hit,” he stated. “I’ve gotten a few these and I have never missed them.”
It is that willingness to continually enhance that has helped the Missouri State product bounce from being the No. 137 Draft prospect in 2022 to his present distinguished position on the prospect panorama. However after seeing their prime catching prospect play 134 video games throughout all ranges this season, it was price questioning whether or not the Braves would let Baldwin be part of Group USA for a event with a bunch stage in Mexico from Nov. 9-14 and a Tremendous Spherical in Tokyo from Nov. 21-24.
“They love guys enjoying in massive conditions,” Baldwin stated. “They’re all for it and enjoying for USA is one thing they’re all about.”
The expertise alone could possibly be massive for Baldwin forward of a possible 2025 debut. He is already circled 20-year veteran Wealthy Hill as a teammate he’ll ask fixed questions of at Premier12. He is one among three catchers on the roster alongside Willie MacIver and Chris Okey. Whereas he hasn’t been instructed about his particular position – whether or not or not it’s because the full-time starter, backup and even lefty bat off the bench — the Atlanta prospect, who will be part of the squad for preliminary exercises in Phoenix subsequent week, will take something, if it means bringing a gold to the pink, white and blue.
“I am positive it is no matter offers them the very best probability to win,” he stated. “Enjoying for Group USA, that is the one factor that issues.”
