Braves Celebrate Drake Baldwin’s NL Rookie of the Year Before Athletics Game

Drake Baldwin celebrated his 25th birthday in Atlanta on Saturday with family and friends who traveled from Wisconsin. The festivities coincided with the Braves’ season opener against the Kansas City Royals.

The catcher homered on Opening Day and added another long ball the following day. Those two early home runs have helped him lead Atlanta through the first four games.

Rookie year recognition and bobblehead night

Baldwin was the 2025 NL Rookie of the Year. He hit .274 with 19 home runs and 80 RBIs that season.

The club will honor him with a bobblehead giveaway. His mother and grandparents flew in from Wisconsin and were excited to see the keepsake.

Braves celebrate Drake Baldwin, NL Rookie of the Year, has become part of the early-season buzz. The celebration blends his on-field success and the in-person fanfare.

Early-season form and metrics

Baldwin ranks among the top 10 percent of MLB hitters in max exit velocity. That metric underscores his power and bat speed.

Atlanta views him as a cornerstone behind the plate. His strong contact and power numbers support that projection.

Team start and pitching performance

The Braves opened this season 3-1. That is a marked improvement after a 0-7 start in 2025.

Atlanta’s staff owns a 1.50 ERA, the second lowest in baseball. Chris Sale and Bryce Elder combined for 12 scoreless innings in their starts. Reynaldo López allowed one run on Saturday.

Next start and broadcast details

Manager Walt Weiss has named left-hander José Suárez to start Tuesday against the Oakland Athletics. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

Braves on Gray will simulcast 25 games free over-the-air. The Gray Media partnership reaches 26 markets across the Southeast. Fans should check local Gray Media listings for channel and times.

Other awards

First baseman Matt Olson and utilityman Mauricio Dubón each received Gold Glove Awards. Ronald Acuña Jr. was honored as the NL Comeback Player of the Year.

Filmogaz.com contributed reporting to this story.