ATLANTA — Drake Baldwin can now proudly say he’s certainly one of simply three catchers over the previous three-plus a long time to be named Rookie of the Yr in both the Nationwide or American League.
Baldwin was named the 2025 Jackie Robinson NL Rookie of the Yr by way of MLB Community’s reside announcement on Monday evening. He’s the tenth Braves participant to obtain this honor. The one different franchises with a minimum of 10 Rookie of the Yr winners are the Dodgers (18) and Yankees (10).
“I didn’t know I used to be going to be that nervous,” Baldwin mentioned. “However as soon as I acquired on that [MLB Network announcement] name, my coronary heart was beating. It was a very cool second.”
Baldwin handled a few of the nervousness whereas hanging out at Braves teammate Spencer Schwellenbach’s Atlanta residence. That is the place the Madison, Wisc., native has come to look at his beloved Inexperienced Bay Packers each weekend. However there was lots to have a good time earlier than Monday evening’s matchup in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The balloting wasn’t as shut as anticipated. Baldwin obtained 21 of the 30 first-place votes forged by members of the Baseball Writers’ Affiliation of America. Runner-up Cubs pitcher Cade Horton obtained the opposite 9 first-place votes. Brewers third baseman Caleb Durbin was the one different finalist for this honor.
“It’s nonetheless type of surreal proper now,” Baldwin mentioned. “It was simply an unimaginable yr, and I’m tremendous excited it ended this fashion.”
How uncommon is it for a catcher to be named Rookie of the Yr? Baldwin is simply the tenth catcher to win this honor because it was first introduced in 1947, and the primary because the Giants’ Buster Posey in 2010. Three of the opposite earlier 9 catchers to win this award are Corridor of Famers: Mike Piazza (1993), Carlton Fisk (’72) and Johnny Bench (’68).
Baldwin joins Michael Harris II (2022), Ronald Acuña Jr. (’18), Craig Kimbrel (’11), Rafael Furcal (’00), David Justice (1990), Bob Horner (’78), Earl Williams (’71), Sam Jethroe (’50) and Alvin Darkish (’48) as the one Braves to win the Rookie of the Yr Award. Williams is the one different member of this group who was a catcher.
“You suppose you understand what it takes to be a catcher within the huge leagues, with not solely hitting but in addition controlling a pitching workers and studying how one can assist them, however you then do it,” Baldwin mentioned. “It’s fairly cool to be a catcher and do that.”
Whereas Horton was one of many sport’s prime pitchers throughout the season’s second half, Baldwin was a constant contributor going all the way in which again to Opening Day, when he made his MLB debut and started proving there can be no want for him to return to the Minors, even after 2023 All-Star catcher Sean Murphy got here off the injured record throughout the common season’s second full week.
Baldwin’s ranks amongst NL rookies (min. 250 plate appearances):fWAR: 3.1 (1st)Batting common: .274 (2nd)Residence runs: 19 (2nd)OPS: .810 (2nd)wRC+: 125 (2nd)
Together with rating close to the highest of each offensive class amongst NL rookies, Baldwin’s success and worth coated the whole season. This was one thing the opposite NL finalists couldn’t tout.
One month after introducing himself to the large league scene, Baldwin caught hearth. He exited April with a .731 OPS after which posted a 1.003 OPS in Might. He additionally had an .800-plus OPS throughout every of the season’s remaining three months.
Horton had a 1.03 ERA in 12 begins after the All-Star break. However he posted a 4.45 ERA whereas making simply 11 appearances (10 begins) earlier than the break.
“It was simply the consistency,” Braves veteran starter Chris Sale mentioned of Baldwin. “Popping out of the primary month, [Baldwin’s] numbers weren’t nice, however a few of the peripherals have been actually leaping out. He in all probability had extra 100 miles-per-hour-hit baseballs with nothing to indicate for it. The frustration could possibly be overwhelming. You could possibly take it out on protection, which he by no means did.
“For a man to have the ability to overcome that begin and excel behind the plate, it’s particular.”
There was early concern about how an inexperienced catcher may deal with a veteran like Sale, who doesn’t shake off a catcher’s pitch calls. However the 2024 NL Cy Younger Award winner discovered rapid consolation along with his new younger catcher and continued to sing his praises all through a memorable season.
“It truthfully glided by actual fast due to how a lot enjoyable it was,” Baldwin mentioned.
