The Atlanta Braves are aiming to reclaim their winning form in the 2025 season following a disappointing early exit from the playoffs last year. After several years of making deep postseason runs, the Braves were eliminated in the Wild Card series, suffering a quiet 2-0 loss to the San Diego Padres.
With spring training now underway, Atlanta is preparing to compete in a highly competitive NL East division. One of the key focuses of their preseason is the performance of their pitching staff, including veteran left-hander Chris Sale. Sale made his second start of the spring on Tuesday in a game that ended in a 0-0 tie against the Minnesota Twins.
Tuesday’s game was particularly significant as it marked Sale’s first opportunity to work with Drake Baldwin, the Braves’ top-catching prospect. The duo appeared to develop strong chemistry as Sale delivered an impressive performance, throwing four hitless innings with four strikeouts and just one walk. Following the game, Sale had high praise for Baldwin, as reported by Harrison Smajovits of Sports Illustrated.
Reflecting on Baldwin’s work ethic and approach, Sale emphasized how impressed he was with the young catcher. “Just seeing him on a day-to-day basis, it’s fun for me because I’ve been here for a little bit now—just seeing how people work, how people operate, how people interact with people,” Sale remarked. “He’s always in the weight room. He has an unbelievable work ethic. He has a great routine, from what I’ve seen. He’s around all the right guys, and that’s what you want from a young guy who’s in the position to take over a very, very important position. He isn’t afraid to ask questions. He’s doing all the right things, and like I said, it looks like he’s starting to chisel out a pretty good routine for himself. Very likeable guy, too, which is great.”
Baldwin has spent the last two seasons developing in the minor leagues since being selected by the Braves in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft. Heading into the 2025 season, he is considered one of the top 65 prospects in baseball, and his talent was evident during Tuesday’s game.
What role Baldwin will play for the Braves at the start of the regular season remains uncertain. While it is unclear whether he will make the Opening Day roster or begin the year in the minors, the opportunity to gain experience working with top-tier pitchers like Sale is invaluable. Regardless of his starting point, Baldwin’s strong showing in spring training is an encouraging sign for Atlanta’s future behind the plate.
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