Drake Baldwin Reacts to Being Named an All-Star for the First Time

Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin was elected by fans to start the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia on July 14.

The 25-year-old is one of five Braves heading to Citizens Bank Park, joining Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, Chris Sale and Raisel Iglesias for what will be one of the biggest weeks of his young career.

"It's pretty cool," Baldwin said. "The All-Star Game is something you always watch growing up. I just talked to Olson and Sale about kind of how cool that day is, and stuff like that. I'm super excited for it. It's pretty special to see some of the hard work is paying off."

Baldwin missed roughly a month with a right oblique strain that landed him on the injured list in mid-May, but his numbers still held up well enough to earn the starting nod over Dodgers catcher Will Smith.

Before the injury, he was one of the hottest hitters in the sport, slashing .303 with 13 home runs and a .931 OPS through 47 games, making it nearly impossible for fans to leave him off the ballot once he came back.

Since getting back to game speed after the layoff, Baldwin's overall line of .251 with 15 home runs, 43 RBI and a .787 OPS in 65 games is still strong for a catcher in his second big league season.

The 52-36 Braves hold first place in the NL East, and Baldwin has been a big reason for that.

What makes Baldwin's rise even more important is the situation behind the plate.

Sean Murphy, who the Braves signed to a six-year, $73 million extension after acquiring him from the Athletics, has been on the 60-day injured list with a fractured finger and has appeared in just four games this season.

Murphy also missed time at the start of the year recovering from hip surgery that ended his 2025 campaign early, and over the past two seasons he has not played 100 games or hit above .200 in either year.

The Braves still owe him $15 million a season through 2028.

Baldwin, on the other hand, won the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2025 after posting a .274 average with 19 home runs and an .810 OPS in 124 games, and his production has only continued to grow in year two.

He is not a free agent until 2031, giving Atlanta plenty of time with his bat in the middle of the lineup.

Murphy still has value when healthy, but Baldwin has already made it clear that the starting job belongs to him, and his first All-Star selection only adds to that case.