Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 30 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45 

A two-time all-Wisconsin hockey forward in high school, Baldwin led the state with 43 goals as a junior. Both the Badger State and Missouri State are underrated sources of baseball talent, and he has played his way into the first five rounds of the 2022 Draft. After splitting time between catcher and DH a year ago, he has taken over full-time duties behind the plate and emerged as one of the better offensive prospects at that position. 

Baldwin employs a simple approach with a modest leg lift at the plate, making consistent hard contact to all fields. The left-handed hitter rarely chases pitches out of the zone, doing damage when pitchers challenge him and accepting walks when they don't. He's doing a better job of tapping into his power this spring, showing 20-homer potential, and his pop plays to all fields. 

Though he's a well below-average runner, Baldwin is athletic and takes charge behind the plate. There were questions about his receiving entering 2022, but he has made strides and the consensus is that he's adequate and can get to average with more development. He has average arm strength but he'll need to improve the quickness and accuracy of his throws to combat the running game. 

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 30 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

A three-year starter at Missouri State, Baldwin used a strong performance in the Northwoods League the summer before his junior year to have a huge season in 2022, finishing with 19 homers and an OPS north of 1.000. That helped him land in the top 150 of MLB Pipeline’s Top 250 Draft prospects list and get taken in the third round of that summer’s Draft by the Braves. He’s on the rise again, this time on the Braves’ list, thanks to a solid first full season of pro ball, spent mostly with High-A Rome, but which also included bumps up to Double-A and then Triple-A, each of which he handled well.

Baldwin had shown a firm understanding of the strike zone and a willingness to see pitches in college, leaving with nearly as many walks as strikeouts. He’s continued that advanced approach so far as a pro, with a walk rate over 14 percent. That allowed him to do consistent damage, especially after making some adjustments with his mechanics at the plate with a 1.020 OPS from July 1 on. A left-handed hitter, he has plenty of raw pop to tap into, and he did so 16 times in 2023, with it showing up at the upper levels to his pull side.

With solid arm strength, Baldwin continues to work on improving his release and accuracy. He should have no problem sticking behind the plate with solid receiving skills and the ability to work well with a pitching staff. At the very least, he has a high floor as a backup catcher with pop, but if he can continue how he finished with the bat, he has the chance to be more than that.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 45 | Run: 30 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 40

Baldwin was a standout hockey and baseball player in high school who went on to focus on the latter at Missouri State. After two relatively pedestrian seasons, Baldwin really broke out in 2022, posting an OPS over 1.000 with 19 homers and taking over as the full-time catcher. That helped him land in the third round of the 2022 Draft with the Braves, and he spent most of his pro debut with full-season Augusta.

A left-handed hitter, Baldwin has shown the ability to make a lot of hard contact to all fields. His ability to control the strike zone, draw walks and not chase carried over into his pro debut. The damage he did on strikes during his last year at Missouri State did not, but there’s juice in his bat for him to tap into as a pro.

Baldwin really stands out behind the plate, both with his leadership traits as well as his receiving and blocking skills. His arm strength is only about average, with work to be done to improve his release and accuracy. If he can rediscover his ability to drive the ball, he could be a very solid big league backup catcher.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 30 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45 

 Split the 2022 season between Low-A Augusta and the Florida Complex League, combining to post a .258 batting average (23-for-89) with five doubles and 15 runs across 24 total games. Appeared as a catcher and designated hitter Made his debut in the Braves organization with the FCL club on August 2, going 2-for-3 with a double and a run against Pittsburgh's affiliate. In 2022 was listed as Atlanta's No. 17 prospect, according to MLB.com

A two-time all-Wisconsin hockey forward in high school, Baldwin led the state with 43 goals as a junior. Both the Badger State and Missouri State are underrated sources of baseball talent, and he played his way into being a third-round pick in the 2022 Draft. After splitting time between catcher and DH a year ago, he took over full-time duties behind the plate and emerged as one of the better offensive prospects at that position.

Baldwin employs a simple approach with a modest leg lift at the plate, making consistent hard contact to all fields. The left-handed hitter rarely chases pitches out of the zone, doing damage when pitchers challenge him and accepting walks when they don't. He tapped into his power this spring, showing 20-homer potential, and his pop plays to all fields.

Although he's a well-below-average runner, Baldwin is athletic and takes charge behind the plate. There were questions about his receiving entering 2022, but he made strides and the consensus entering the Draft was that he's adequate and can get to average with more development. He has average arm strength, but he'll need to improve the quickness and accuracy of his throws to combat the running game.

Awards

Futures Game Selection

Year	Team
2024

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2023

SAL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2023

SAL Player of the Week

Week	Team
08/27/2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	07/15/2024	Gwinnett Stripers activated C Drake Baldwin.
	07/14/2024	National League Futures activated C Drake Baldwin.
	07/12/2024	Gwinnett Stripers placed C Drake Baldwin on the temporarily inactive list.
	06/11/2024	C Drake Baldwin assigned to Gwinnett Stripers from Mississippi Braves.
	03/27/2024	C Drake Baldwin assigned to Mississippi Braves from Gwinnett Stripers.
	03/07/2024	Atlanta Braves Prospects activated C Drake Baldwin.
	02/02/2024	Atlanta Braves invited non-roster C Drake Baldwin to spring training.
	09/22/2023	C Drake Baldwin assigned to Gwinnett Stripers from Mississippi Braves.
	09/22/2023	Gwinnett Stripers activated C Drake Baldwin.
	08/29/2023	C Drake Baldwin assigned to Mississippi Braves from Rome Braves.
	04/06/2023	C Drake Baldwin assigned to Rome Braves.
	02/01/2023	C Drake Baldwin roster status changed by Atlanta Braves.
	02/01/2023	Atlanta Braves invited non-roster C Drake Baldwin to spring training.
	08/09/2022	C Drake Baldwin and assigned to Augusta GreenJackets from FCL Braves.
	08/02/2022	C Drake Baldwin assigned to FCL Braves.
	07/30/2022	Atlanta Braves signed C Drake Baldwin.
	06/10/2022	C Drake Baldwin assigned to College Workout.