Drake Baldwin’s rise from a promising young catcher to one of the most dangerous hitters in the National League has continued into the opening weeks of the 2026 season.
The 25-year-old backstop has been at the center of the Atlanta Braves early success, and on Friday he added another milestone to what is quickly becoming one of the best starts in baseball.
Baldwin knocked in his 16th RBI of the season during Atlanta’s matchup against the Cleveland Guardians, a total that now leads MLB. His production has been so steady that he now finds himself in rare franchise company, joining Travis d'Arnaud and Don Padgett.
“Drake Baldwin is one of three Braves catchers to drive in 15 runs in their first 14 games of the season joining Travis d’Arnaud in 2020 (17) and Don Padgett in 1946 (16),” reported Chad Bishop of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Drake Baldwin is one of three Braves catchers to drive in 15 runs in their first 14 games of the season joining Travis d’Arnaud in 2020 (17) and Don Padgett in 1946 (16)
The historic pace is only part of Baldwin’s early dominance. He entered Friday’s slate of games as MLB’s home run leader with five and carried a .321 batting average, .390 on-base percentage and 1.012 OPS through his first 13 games.
After winning NL Rookie of the Year last season, Baldwin looks even better in year two, already positioning himself as a legitimate MVP candidate if he continues producing at this level. An All-Star selection also feels increasingly likely as well if he continues to perform.
Baldwin’s emergence is even more impressive considering how quickly he has climbed the organization. Selected in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft, he is only in his second season but already looks like a long-term foundational piece.
His ability to hit for power, get on base and handle the pitching staff has made him one of the most valuable young players in the league. He has especially been valuable with his teammates, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Austin Riley, off to slow starts.
The Braves are counting on Baldwin to help lead them back to the MLB playoffs after a disappointing 2025 season in which they missed the postseason entirely despite his breakout year. So far, he has delivered. Atlanta now owns a 9-5 record and sits atop the NL East, powered in large part by Baldwin’s bat.
If he keeps hitting like this, Baldwin will not only continue rewriting early-season franchise history but may also become the driving force behind Atlanta’s push to reclaim its place as a World Series contender.