{"id":43198,"date":"2025-03-22T08:28:57","date_gmt":"2025-03-22T08:28:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=43198"},"modified":"2025-03-22T08:28:57","modified_gmt":"2025-03-22T08:28:57","slug":"braves-catcher-drake-baldwin-on-making-opening-day-roster-its-something-you-dream-of","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=43198","title":{"rendered":"Braves catcher Drake Baldwin on making opening-day roster: \u2018It\u2019s something you dream of\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. \u2014 <\/b>On Friday morning, ahead of a team meeting, Braves bench coach Walt Weiss called catcher Drake Baldwin into manager Brian Snitker\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, I think I had an idea \u2014 just because it was before the travel meeting, so I was like, \u2018I feel like I wouldn\u2019t have lasted this long if it wasn\u2019t gonna happen,\u2019\u201d Baldwin said of his thought when Weiss summoned him into Snitker\u2019s office. \u201cI don\u2019t know, I just think I started smiling or something. I mean, it\u2019s something you dream of your whole life, so it was pretty cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

Snitker delivered the news: The Braves were putting Baldwin on the opening-day roster. He will line up with his team March 27 at Petco Park in San Diego. He will likely will start that game and catch Chris Sale.<\/p>\n

\n

Baldwin\u2019s first call was to his mother, Bridgette Baldwin, who is a teacher. Drake didn\u2019t know if she\u2019d be able to step away at that time, but she could, and he told her the good news.<\/p>\n

Baldwin is the Braves\u2019 top prospect on MLB Pipeline\u2019s list. But make no mistake: He\u2019s widely regarded as the organization\u2019s top prospect. There\u2019s not much debate there. MLB Pipeline ranked Baldwin as the No. 62 prospect in all of baseball,<\/p>\n

This spring, Baldwin is 10-for-35 with three RBIs. He also has showcased his defensive improvement, including throwing out a runner trying to steal second base in a recent game against the Yankees.<\/p>\n

In early March, Sean Murphy was hit by a pitch and suffered a cracked left rib. He probably will be out a week or two past opening day. When the injury occurred, a door opened for Baldwin, though under unfortunate circumstances.<\/p>\n

Since then, Baldwin has continued to prove himself. He\u2019s played well. He\u2019s continued building relationships with pitchers. He\u2019s impressed Snitker and his coaches.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s great,\u201d Sale said. \u201cGetting called up to the big leagues is awesome, but starting the year being able to experience opening day is really special. He\u2019s put in a lot of work. He\u2019s really worked his butt off this spring training. A lot of back and forth. He asks a lot of questions. He\u2019s ready. I mean, I\u2019ve seen it. On both sides of the ball, he\u2019s prepared for this moment, so we\u2019re excited for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Braves drafted Baldwin, who turns 24 later this month, in the third round in 2022 out of Missouri State. He began last year at Double-A, then eventually hit .298 with an .898 OPS, 12 homers and 55 RBIs over 275 at-bats at Triple-A Gwinnett.<\/p>\n

Now, he has a great opportunity to continue his rise.<\/p>\n

The Braves open the season with four games in San Diego and then three at Dodger Stadium. It won\u2019t be an easy road trip. But the Braves again feature a terrific roster.<\/p>\n

On March 27, Baldwin will line up with his teammates for the anthem on opening day \u2014 a moment that\u2019ll last forever for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish I could say I knew (what it would feel like to line up opening day), but I honestly have never experienced it,\u201d Baldwin said. \u201cI think I can imagine it as much as I want, but I won\u2019t really know until it happens. From everyone who\u2019s done it before me and what I\u2019m expecting, it\u2019s going to be a pretty cool moment that I\u2019m never gonna forget.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Baldwin is widely regarded as the organization\u2019s top prospect. There\u2019s not much debate there.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":43199,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nBraves catcher Drake Baldwin on making opening-day roster: \u2018It\u2019s something you dream of\u2019 - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=43198\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Braves catcher Drake Baldwin on making opening-day roster: \u2018It\u2019s something you dream of\u2019 - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Baldwin is widely regarded as the organization\u2019s top prospect. 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