ATLANTA – Drake Baldwin celebrated his 25th birthday on Saturday surrounded by friends and family who traveled in from the Midwest to watch the Atlanta Braves open their season against the Kansas City Royals.<\/p>\n
With loved ones in attendance, the stakes felt a little higher – and Baldwin delivered. He launched two home runs – one on Opening Day and one more on Sunday – making the moment even more memorable.<\/p>\n
RELATED: Drake Baldwin homers, but Braves can\u2019t complete sweep of Royals<\/a> <\/p>\n Now, Baldwin has one more celebration in store \u2014 this time for his 2025 NL Rookie of the Year campaign, during which he hit .274 with 19 home runs and 80 RBIs. To top it off, he\u2019s getting his own bobblehead.<\/p>\n In addition to Baldwin, first baseman Matt Olson and utilityman Mauricio Dub\u00f3n \u2014 who played in the AL last year \u2014 are receiving their respective Gold Glove Awards. Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. is also receiving his NL Comeback Player of the Year award.<\/p>\n #Braves<\/a> catcher Drake Baldwin presented with the NL ROY award. In addition, it\u2019s also his bobblehead night.<\/p>\n He told me that his mom and grandparents, who flew in from Wisconsin and have been in attendance throughout the homestand, are \u201cfired up\u201d about the bobblehead. pic.twitter.com\/N7I2ufLSKF<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Aaron Schmidt (@AaronTSchmidt) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n But it\u2019s been quite a stretch for the 25-year-old Wisconsin native.<\/p>\n He\u2019s all smiles. Perhaps more so regarding the bobblehead.<\/p>\n Who wouldn\u2019t be?<\/p>\n \u201c(The bobblehead) is the first thing that came to fruition after the Rookie of the Year stuff. I was like, \u2018Oh, this is sweet.\u2019\u201d Baldwin told Atlanta News First. \u201cI know a lot of people are coming for the bobbleheads. My mom, grandparents are all fired up about it.<\/p>\n \u201cBut they just like to see me go out there and have fun, which I think is the biggest thing about all this. And it ends up having you play the best.\u201d<\/p>\n Not only is Baldwin leading the team with two homers through its first four games, but he\u2019s also hitting the ball hard. He\u2019s gunning for the opposite of the infamous sophomore slump. <\/p>\n A sophomore surge, perhaps. <\/p>\n Baldwin currently ranks in the top 10% of MLB hitters in max exit velocity, one of several indicators reinforcing the Braves\u2019 belief that he\u2019s their catcher of the future. And at 3\u20131, Atlanta is off to a far better start than in 2025, when the team opened 0\u20137 and never fully recovered.<\/p>\n \u201cStarting 0-7 was just, no matter how hard you try and keep the spirits up, it just feels a little different,\u201d Baldwin said. \u201cYou just feel that extra energy when you\u2019re 3-1. A lot of extra energy. It\u2019s much easier to have fun. A couple bounces here and there. You\u2019re playing good baseball. You\u2019re swinging it. Pitchers have been really good. We\u2019re trying to keep it rolling.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a lot of fun so far.\u201d<\/p>\n On the mound, Chris Sale and Bryce Elder combined for 12 scoreless innings across their starts, while Reynaldo L\u00f3pez allowed just one run on Saturday. As a result, the Braves own a 1.50 ERA. That\u2019s the second lowest in baseball.<\/p>\n Manager Walt Weiss has tabbed left-hander Jos\u00e9 Su\u00e1rez to start Tuesday against the Athletics. Behind the plate? The reigning Rookie of the Year.<\/p>\n First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m.<\/p>\n How to watch Braves on Gray<\/p>\n The Braves and Gray Media will simulcast 25 games for free, over-the-air to fans across Braves Country through Braves on Gray<\/a> local television stations, reaching 26 markets throughout the Southeast.<\/p>\n For broadcast times, channel information and additional details, fans are encouraged to click here<\/a> and check local Gray Media station listings in their markets.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n