BOSTON -- Now that Drake Baldwin has been behind the plate the past two games, how do the Braves plan to split playing time between the impressive young rookie and veteran catcher Sean Murphy, who is also enjoying a solid season?
“It’s not a platoon per se, it’s just going to be travel days and matchup-type things,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.
“The kid is hitting. He’s going to play more. That’s just the way it goes, and he’s doing a great job. I want to keep him active, as well as Murph. When you can do that, you may get a lot out of that one position.”
Baldwin took advantage of the consecutive starts by tallying a pair of key singles in a 10-4 win over the Red Sox on Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park. The 23-year-old catcher has keyed the Braves’ recent success by hitting .531 (17-for-32) with two doubles, three homers and a 1.406 OPS this month.
Murphy will be behind the plate on Tuesday and Thursday when the Nationals start a left-hander. But Baldwin’s starts will not be limited to games where the opponent is starting a lefty. His bat is far too valuable for him to be used as the left-handed portion of a platoon.
“You can’t speak enough good about him,” Braves first baseman Matt Olson said. “The at-bats speak for themselves. The guy is putting the ball on the barrel every time, it feels like.”
Baldwin has hit .357 with five homers and a .983 OPS in the 90 plate appearances he has compiled since making his MLB debut on Opening Day. The only two other players to hit .350 and produce a .980 OPS while playing the first 29 games of their career with the Braves were Jeff Francoeur (.360, 1.104 in 2005) and Charles Thomas (.369, 1.101 in ‘04).
“It’s kind of crazy when you look at the scorecard and see [the stats],” Baldwin said. “I’m still just trying to go through each at-bat and treat it as its own.”
It’s not like the Braves aren’t also getting great production from Murphy, who ranks second among all MLB catchers with the eight homers he has totaled since missing the season’s first nine games with a cracked left rib.
The Braves entered Sunday with a .909 OPS from the catching position. The only teams with a better mark were the Mariners (1.001) and the Cubs (.923).
“Murphy has been great to me,” Baldwin said. “When I’m catching, he has helped me a ton. It’s been a good one-two punch.”
Baldwin tallied an RBI single in Sunday’s two-run first, and he singled during a three-run fifth that included four walks. He also helped Spencer Schwellenbach navigate his way through a determined effort. Schwellenbach surrendered a Rafael Devers grand slam in the third inning, but he kept the Red Sox scoreless over the rest of his seven innings.
The Braves own the National League’s second-highest win total (24) going back to April 4, the day they ended their 0-7 season-opening skid. They also have an NL-best 19-10 record going back to April 18.
This success has coincided with the quick maturation and comfort Baldwin has found at the big league level.
“I've thrown to him a number of times in the Minor Leagues, and just to see his development and pitch calling and communication, it's been really awesome to watch,” Schwellenbach said. “It helps me out as a pitcher as well.”
Baldwin’s offensive skills have been touted since he was taken out of Missouri State in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft. But much of his recent growth has come defensively, especially in terms of arm strength.
In fact, Baldwin’s 1.95 average pop time to second base ranks just ahead of Murphy’s 1.96.
“The release, accuracy and everything has been really good,” Snitker said. “I know they’ve been working at it a lot. The last few throws have been really, really good. He’s going to continue to get better.”
Murphy struggled through last year’s injury-marred season, but he’s just two years removed from tying J.T. Realmuto for the best WAR, per FanGraphs, among catchers from 2021-23.
If this is Marcell Ozuna’s last season in Atlanta, Murphy and Baldwin can share both the catching and DH spots next year. But for now, Snitker is going to have to find ways to keep both of his talented catchers active.