ATLANTA -- Drake Baldwin continues to strengthen his case for National League Rookie of the Year honors.
The 24-year-old catcher went 3-for-5 with two homers and five RBIs as he helped the Braves rally for an 8-6 win over the Marlins on Thursday night at Truist Park to snap a three-game skid.
Baldwin hit a solo home run in the first inning, a three-run homer in the sixth and a game-tying single in the seventh. It was Baldwin’s first career multi-home run game and it’s the fourth time this season that he has tallied three or more RBIs in a game.
“I just look for a good pitch to hit and then try to get [my] best swing off,” Baldwin said. “[I try to] do that as many times a game as [I] can and hopefully it ends up working out one or two times.”
Baldwin is among the qualified rookie leaders in multiple categories, including home runs (13), RBIs (46) and OPS (.840). He also ranks in the 91st percentile in MLB for expected batting average. Baldwin is batting .364 over his last seven games and .308 over his past 15.
Baldwin was second in MLB.com's July’s Rookie of the Year poll with nine first-place votes to Brewers phenom pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, who tallied 19 first-place votes. Baldwin may surpass Misiorowski in the upcoming August poll as Misiorowski is currently on the 15-day injured list with a left tibia contusion.
Braves manager Brian Snitker, who has managed multiple Rookie of the Year Award winners, said Baldwin fits the bill for the honor.
“He’s right there in all the categories for sure,” Snitker said. “I think at the end of the year, if he keeps going like this, it won’t surprise me a bit.”
Baldwin, who has played in just 82 MLB games, said he has the luxury of learning from a clubhouse full of veterans.
“I think a lot of it is just watching some of the veterans around the team and seeing how they go about day-to-day things, and just how they get their work in and how they get their routines in,” Baldwin said. “The coaching staff kind of just keeping you on line helps a ton. It’s a long season and there’s a lot of ups and downs. I’m just trying to stay as level as [I can].”
The Braves entered Thursday coming off a rough series in which they were swept by the MLB-leading Brewers, and Baldwin was the catalyst for Atlanta’s comeback win against red-hot Miami.
“Coming back in a game like that kind of gives you that confidence,” Baldwin said. “Let’s say you’re down by two in the third inning, or whatever inning, you know that you’ve done it before and you’ve come back and won games like that.”
Baldwin is no stranger to putting up big RBI totals. In a July 21 game against the Giants, Baldwin tallied six RBIs and became the first Braves rookie with five or more RBIs in a game since Kelly Johnson logged six against the Reds on June 17, 2005.
“It’s what you dream of as a little kid, just getting up to bat in big moments and delivering with guys in scoring position,” Baldwin said. “It says a lot about the guys in front of me as well [getting] on base there.”
Baldwin has been sharing the catching duties with Sean Murphy, who is in his seventh MLB season, and Baldwin is taking advantage of learning from his fellow backstop, along with backup Sandy León.
“I got to work with León last year and Murphy in Spring Training years before,” Baldwin said. “I’m just learning as much as I can. They sit down with me between innings and stuff like that, and start talking about pitch calling and stuff like that. Just having them around and seeing what they do, and [both] helping me, it’s super beneficial.”
Snitker compared Baldwin to former Braves catcher Brian McCann, a seven-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger Award winner.
“When [McCann] came up it was the same way,” Snitker said. “[He was] above his years behind the plate and as an offensive player, and Drake’s right there with him.”
Baldwin picked up starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco, who allowed six runs on nine hits and two walks over 5 2/3 innings including a five-run second inning.
“I think he’s unbelievable,” Carrasco said. “The way he called the game, I think he knows everything [that] we were talking about before the game [and] the scouting report. I was really impressed.”