#44 Drake Baldwin
Drake Baldwin is now garnering respect as a top 50 prospect in the game, which is damn impressive considering he wasn’t on many people’s radar entering last season.
“Baldwin was a 2022 third-round pick out of Missouri State as an offensively oriented catcher who may have to move to a corner spot if he didn’t keep progressing behind the plate,” McDaniel writes. “He has improved to be solid there, but will probably never be a defensive standout. He also hit more than expected in pro ball, becoming a backup option to play corner outfield down the stretch in 2024 before the Braves acquired Jorge Soler via trade.
Baldwin mashed at Double-A and Triple-A last season, posting a .370 OBP and 16 homers…”
With Drake Baldwin, the talent is no longer the question. He possesses effortless power to all fields, fully capable of becoming a 20-30 home run guy at the major-league level. However, he doesn’t strike out a lot to make that happen. Baldwin struck out just 95 times last season compared to 72 walks.
That plate discipline combined with his power is extremely encouraging for his future, but where does he slot into the Braves lineup? With Sean Murphy under team control through 2029, it will be interesting to see if Alex Anthopoulos eventually moves one of them to address other areas of concern.
#85 Nacho Alvarez Jr.
Another player coming off a breakout campaign in 2024, Nacho Alvarez performed so well in AAA that the Braves called him up last year to make his MLB debut. He struggled over an eight-game stint, but that shouldn’t take away from him getting on base at a near .400 clip in the minors while also flashing some improved power, blasting a career-high 10 home runs.
“Alvarez’s on-base track record should continue while his raw power, bat speed and in-game feel for power are all below average, but not worryingly so. He profiles as a high-probability solid big leaguer, with the downside that he could be more of a high-contact utility/platoon type. But there’s room for more growth as Alvarez is still the same age as most 2024 or 2025 collegiate draft picks,” McDaniels writes.
Just like Drake Baldwin, there is concern about where Alvarez slots into the Braves future plans. Ideally, he continues to show improved defense and takes over at shortstop for Orlando Arcia. However, if that doesn’t happen, it’s hard to imagine a place for him to play everyday. His defensive development will be key to his future with the organization.
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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