The Atlanta Braves have a good problem — too much talent behind the plate.
Rookie sensation Drake Baldwin is in the midst of an electrifying breakout, swinging one of the hottest bats in all of Major League Baseball. Over his last 21 games, the 24-year-old is hitting a blistering .472 with 4 home runs, and a jaw-dropping OPS just under 1.300. To put it plainly: Baldwin is not just playing well — he’s making history.
And yet… he’s still not in the Braves’ lineup every day.
Why? The answer lies behind the plate, where Sean Murphy, one of the league’s best defensive catchers and no slouch offensively either (hitting .858 OPS with 8 homers), continues to anchor the Braves’ pitching staff. The duo represents two of Atlanta’s most valuable assets — and the team has been wrestling with how to fit both into the lineup regularly.
For many fans, the solution seemed obvious: move Baldwin to left field, a position of opportunity given Atlanta’s inconsistent production there this season. But now, according to insider reports and confirmation from GM Alex Anthopoulos, that idea has been completely shelved — at least for now.
“It Hasn’t Even Been Considered”
During a recent appearance on Atlanta sports radio station 680 The Fan, Anthopoulos was asked directly about the Baldwin-to-left-field experiment. His response was firm: “It hasn’t even been considered.”
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The decision raised eyebrows among Braves fans who remember the club’s past flexibility with position changes. After all, this is the same organization that once started Evan Gattis in left field and even Freddie Freeman at third base. So what makes Baldwin different?
According to insiders, the Braves are prioritizing two things: Baldwin’s long-term development as a catcher and not overloading a rookie already under intense pressure.
Development Over Desperation
While Baldwin’s bat is major-league ready — and then some — the Braves believe forcing a defensive position switch midseason could derail his progress.
“Right now, Drake is doing everything we could’ve hoped for, and more, in his natural position,” a team source shared. “There’s no reason to mess with that rhythm.”
It’s also worth noting that Baldwin isn’t being benched — he’s still rotating into the lineup as a catcher and designated hitter. But if Murphy is healthy and producing, those at-bats become harder to come by.
Add to that the fact that Ronald Acuña Jr. is close to returning, and the outfield picture starts to fill quickly. Veteran Jurickson Profar is also expected back, and Eli White and Alex Verdugo have held their own in left. For now, the Braves don’t see a pressing need to make a drastic change.
Is It the Right Call?
Not everyone agrees. Some believe the Braves are being overly cautious — possibly even wasting one of the league’s hottest hitters. One former scout commented, “You don’t get many rookies who hit like this. You find a way to play them every day. Period.”
Still, with a long season ahead and a playoff run in sight, the Braves are playing the long game. They don’t want to risk Baldwin’s defense or his confidence for the sake of a temporary boost in left field.
A Wait-and-See Approach
In the ever-evolving chess match of MLB roster management, today’s “no” can become tomorrow’s “maybe.”
If injuries hit. If the bats go cold. Or if Baldwin keeps raking at this unbelievable pace — the Braves may very well revisit the idea. But for now, Baldwin remains a catcher… and one of the most exciting young hitters in baseball.
One thing’s for sure: as long as Baldwin is swinging it like this, Braves fans will be watching — wherever he plays.
