<img alt="Atlanta Braves Photo Day" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tIZ1IpaG8GQKCnQ_CW4_MjWi9G4=/0x0:6000x4000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73987677/2202363112.0.jpg">
Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images
With his Opening Day start, he will do something no Atlanta catcher has done before. When the Atlanta Braves take the field on Opening Day against the San Diego Padres on March 27, 2025, rookie Drake Baldwin will do something that no other catcher has done in Atlanta Braves history.
As the starter behind the plate for the Braves, Baldwin - the organization’s top prospect and FanGraph’s 11th ranked prospect in baseball - will become the first Atlanta Braves catcher to make his MLB debut while starting at the position on Opening Day.
The 23-year-old left-handed-hitter - who will turn 24 on March 28 - was added to the roster after presumed starting catcher Sean Murphy fractured a rib from being hit by a pitch in Spring Training.
Baldwin is the first rookie catcher to start on Opening Day for Atlanta since Alex Jackson did so in 2020 when injuries forced the team to place both Tyler Flowers and Travis d’Arnaud on the 10-day IL. If the team had started the other rookie they added to the roster - William Contreras - Contreras would have made his MLB debut as the starter. Alas, Jackson, who appeared in four games in 2019, got the nod instead.
The last catcher in Braves franchise to make his MLB debut as the Opening Day starter at catcher was Ebba St. Claire who started for the Boston Braves in 1951.
Contreras did appear on Opening Day in 2020 but did not start. Bob Didier also made his MLB debut on Opening Day for Atlanta in 1969, but like Contreras, was not in the starting line-up.
Del Crandall holds the franchise record for most starts on Opening Day at catch with 11. Brian McCann is the Atlanta Braves record holder with eight starts behind the plate on Opening Day.
<img alt="Atlanta Braves Photo Day" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tIZ1IpaG8GQKCnQ_CW4_MjWi9G4=/0x0:6000x4000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73987677/2202363112.0.jpg">
Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images
With his Opening Day start, he will do something no Atlanta catcher has done before. When the Atlanta Braves take the field on Opening Day against the San Diego Padres on March 27, 2025, rookie Drake Baldwin will do something that no other catcher has done in Atlanta Braves history.
As the starter behind the plate for the Braves, Baldwin - the organization’s top prospect and FanGraph’s 11th ranked prospect in baseball - will become the first Atlanta Braves catcher to make his MLB debut while starting at the position on Opening Day.
The 23-year-old left-handed-hitter - who will turn 24 on March 28 - was added to the roster after presumed starting catcher Sean Murphy fractured a rib from being hit by a pitch in Spring Training.
Baldwin is the first rookie catcher to start on Opening Day for Atlanta since Alex Jackson did so in 2020 when injuries forced the team to place both Tyler Flowers and Travis d’Arnaud on the 10-day IL. If the team had started the other rookie they added to the roster - William Contreras - Contreras would have made his MLB debut as the starter. Alas, Jackson, who appeared in four games in 2019, got the nod instead.
The last catcher in Braves franchise to make his MLB debut as the Opening Day starter at catcher was Ebba St. Claire who started for the Boston Braves in 1951.
Contreras did appear on Opening Day in 2020 but did not start. Bob Didier also made his MLB debut on Opening Day for Atlanta in 1969, but like Contreras, was not in the starting line-up.
Del Crandall holds the franchise record for most starts on Opening Day at catch with 11. Brian McCann is the Atlanta Braves record holder with eight starts behind the plate on Opening Day.
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