Springfield Standard

Former Missouri State University catcher Drake Baldwin has been named the National League Outstanding Rookie for 2025 by the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). The announcement was made Wednesday, following a vote by active MLBPA members as part of the Players Choice Awards program.

Baldwin began his Major League Baseball career in 2025 as the Atlanta Braves’ opening-day starting catcher. Over the season, he played in 124 games and posted a .274 batting average with 19 home runs and 80 RBIs.

Among National League rookies who played at least 100 games, Baldwin led in RBIs (80), batting average (.274), OPS (.810), and slugging percentage (.469). He was second among his peers in home runs (19) and total bases (190). Baldwin became one of only seven rookie catchers since 1947 to record at least 35 extra-base hits and 78 RBIs, and is the first to achieve this since Geovany Soto in 2008.

Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Baldwin was selected by Atlanta in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft with the 96th overall pick. This selection made him the highest-drafted catcher in Missouri State University history.

During his draft year at Missouri State, Baldwin hit .341 with 19 home runs and 70 RBIs—numbers that tied him for seventh on the Bears' single-season record list. He reached base safely in 57 out of 60 games that season and recorded a .448 on-base percentage while playing for an NCAA Regional team. Across his college career at Missouri State, Baldwin maintained a .317 batting average with 24 home runs, 104 RBIs, and accumulated 51 extra-base hits over 120 games. His career fielding percentage of .994 ranks second all-time at Missouri State.