GEORGIA — Braves catcher Drake Baldwin has slugged his way to National League Rookie of the Year.
The 24-year-old slammed 19 homers and drove in 80 runs this season.
“I was just going into it with an open mind, kind of realizing how cool it is to even be a finalist for it,” Baldwin said. “But I didn’t know how it was going to turn out. I know it’s tough to rank or try to judge who had a better year between a pitcher and a hitter or a catcher.”
Baldwin received 21 of 30 first-place votes. Cubs right-hander Cade Horton got the other nine first-place votes and finished second, followed by Brewers third baseman Caleb Durbin. The balloting was conducted before the postseason.
The Braves know a thing or two about winning Rookie of the Year.
This is the 10th time the franchise has done it, second in the league behind the Dodgers with a record 18.