Braves need to find a place for Drake Baldwin to play everyday

Sean Murphy’s 2024 campaign, marred by injuries and inconsistent play, left many questioning his standing entering this season. Those concerns were only exacerbated by an injury suffered in Spring Training after taking a 95 MPH fastball right to the ribs. It kept him out for the first week of the season, but his return to the lineup has provided a much-needed boost for the Braves offense.

Murphy has already slugged four home runs in just eight games, one shy of Austin Riley for the team lead. It’s been a pleasant reminder about who Murphy can be when he’s healthy; however, it also brings a dilemma to light regarding the Braves top prospect Drake Baldwin.

Baldwin had a stellar spring, and when Murphy went down, it was an obvious opportunity for the Braves to get a glimpse of the 24-year-old against major-league competition. His overall numbers may not jump off the page, but the underlying data paints a very different picture — he’s been one of the unluckiest hitters in baseball. Baldwin could easily be hitting north of .300 with a few homers already, and as his luck has started to shift, his potential is becoming increasingly apparent.

Baldwin has a hit in each of his last five games, including two multi-hit performances and his first home run. He’s hitting .368 over that stretch with an OPS over 1.000. This is a young man that doesn’t need to spend another second in the minors. He deserves to be playing everyday at the major-league level. The only problem is there’s no clear pathway to playing time unless he’s able to switch positions.

Sean Murphy isn’t going anywhere, at least not right now. The Braves love what he offers the pitching staff behind the plate, and they invested heavily into him when they acquired him from the Athletics and signed him to a six-year, $72 million extension. When he’s right offensively, he’s as good as any backstop in the game.

It’s not going to be easy for Drake Baldwin to dethrone Sean Murphy, who is under team control through 2029, as the club’s starting catcher. Which really leaves the Braves with two options — trade one of them or see if Baldwin can play in the outfield.

It’s unclear whether Baldwin can handle a position change defensively, but if there were ever a time to try, it is right now. The Braves outfield has been absolutely putrid, with all of their options performing well below replacement level. Baldwin might look like a fish out of water defensively, but his stick should make up the difference compared to the alternatives.

It’s not a perfect solution, but the Braves aren’t in a position to rule out anything. This is the same organization that once played Freddie Freeman at third base out of necessity. Don’t be surprised if the club gets creative to find ways to keep Drake Baldwin’s bat in the lineup as the season rolls on.