Baldwin has been sidelined since suffering a strained right oblique on May 19.
The Atlanta Braves announced catcher Drake Baldwin will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.
Baldwin has been sidelined since May 19 with a strained right oblique, holding him out from the Braves lineup for nearly a month. Manager Walt Weiss recently noted Baldwin resumed his ramp-up process earlier this week, and he now takes the next step forward after taking live at-bats on Thursday and Friday.
If his rehab stint goes well, there is a chance Baldwin could be activated as early as this Tuesday. In his place, the Braves have rotated between veteran catchers Austin Wynns and Sandy León, who have slotted towards the bottom of their batting order.
In a short period of time, Baldwin has turned into one of the best catchers in the league since being called up. He took full advantage of the opportunity after earning the starting catcher job and was named the National League Rookie of the Year in 2025, cementing himself as a core piece of the Braves’ order.
Despite missing nearly a month since his injury, Baldwin’s 2026 numbers still rank among the best at the position. His 2.2 fWAR currently ranks third among catchers despite the injury.
It is no secret that Baldwin impressed in his rookie season, but questions arose as to if he could sustain that success going forward. But in 2026 that has not been a concern, as Baldwin continues to solidify his game with strong numbers.
Before his injury, the 25-year-old has hit for a .303 average, swatted 13 homers and drove in 38 RBI. He totaled a 159 wRC+ at the plate, which still leads all catchers.
A third-round draft pick in 2022, Baldwin has developed into one of the Braves’ most reliable hitters and has consistently occupied a spot near the top of the lineup. Manager Walt Weiss and the team could not ask for much more from Baldwin, whose return should help the team greatly.
Although they were missing their starting catcher, the Braves have not missed a beat since he went down. With an overall record of 45-23, they still remain atop the standings as the league’s best. But with a recent injury to Ronald Acuña Jr. and the absence of Baldwin, star power in the heart of their batting order has started to run thin.
The Braves have consistently utilized Baldwin’s bat in the two-hole of the order, typically hitting behind Acuña Jr. in the leadoff spot. Although their offense has held steady since Baldwin’s injury, his imminent return is one the Braves are eagerly anticipating, as the club has experienced a noticeable drop-off in production at catcher during his absence.
