ATLANTA -- Braves manager Brian Snitker wasn¡¯t willing to commit to Drake Baldwin staying at the big league level as a backup catcher for an extended period. But he appreciated having the chance to bring his team¡¯s top prospect off the bench during the thrilling five-run eighth that provided an energizing 6-4 comeback win over the Twins on Friday night at Truist Park.
¡°It was a good spot for him right there,¡± Braves manager Brian Snitker said. ¡°We knew that if he was still up here when [starting catcher Sean Murphy] came back, we could use that bullet off the bench periodically, and he came through.¡±
Baldwin¡¯s go-ahead pinch-hit single stands as the best moment he has experienced since making his big league debut during the March 27 Opening Day game in San Diego. The 24-year-old catcher experienced the thrill of his first career homer during the ninth inning of Wednesday¡¯s loss in Toronto. But that moment was trumped by this latest hit, which gave the home crowd a chance to roar and distance itself from the team¡¯s early struggles.
¡°Having a win come out of it was the biggest thing,¡± Baldwin said. ¡°It¡¯s a lot more fun when we¡¯re winning. The main thing here is winning. Being able to do that here was a lot more fun.¡±
So could the Braves decide to continue carrying Baldwin, despite the fact that his playing time will be limited?
¡°You know what I¡¯m worried about is tomorrow,¡± Snitker said. ¡°Those things have a way of working themselves out.¡±
Wondering whether this was the win that will turn the Braves¡¯ season around has become somewhat tiresome over the past couple of weeks. This is a team that still hasn¡¯t won consecutive games. But a victorious rally like this can certainly alter the mood for any team, especially a legit preseason World Series hopeful that has won just six of its first 19 games.
¡°This felt more like the Braves tonight,¡± Snitker said. ¡°It¡¯s a good one to win because we were laying dead in the weeds for quite a while.¡±
Snitker was staring at the possibility of having to answer more questions about his anemic offense and the decision to option AJ Smith-Shawver to Triple-A Gwinnett instead of Bryce Elder, who allowed the Twins four runs through five innings. His team¡¯s only run through the first five innings came via Jarred Kelenic¡¯s solo homer off Chris Paddack, who lowered his ERA from 9.49 to 7.27 after limiting the Braves to one run over five innings.
It was fitting that the decisive eighth included two key walks from Murphy and Marcell Ozuna, a couple of players who would have been included in any recent discussions about how long to keep Baldwin at the big league level.
Baldwin served as Atlanta¡¯s primary catcher while Murphy missed the season¡¯s first nine games with a cracked left rib suffered on Feb. 28. The 2023 All-Star catcher homered three times through the first five games he played after making his season debut on April 8. This has led to him serving as Atlanta¡¯s starting catcher for eight of the past 10 games.
Any thought about sending Baldwin to Triple-A to get regular at-bats was delayed earlier this week, when a sore hip sidelined Ozuna during a three-game series in Toronto. Baldwin filled Ozuna¡¯s shoes as the designated hitter in two of those games and was behind the plate in the other.
Those plate appearances helped keep Baldwin ready for the opportunity that arose Friday, when Ozuna began the decisive rally with a one-out walk. Consecutive singles from Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies were followed by Murphy drawing a walk from Griffin Jax to load the bases. Michael Harris II improved to 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position with a game-tying single to right off Cole Sands.
This set the stage for Baldwin, who thought Sands might walk him after Harris stole second base. Instead, the young Braves slugger got the pitch he wanted and laced a 109.4 mph ground ball past a drawn-in infield and into center.
¡°He¡¯s been hitting the ball hard all season and hasn¡¯t had the best of luck,¡± Harris said.
There has never been much doubt about Baldwin¡¯s offensive potential. But would his offensive skills be negatively impacted if he¡¯s in the lineup only once a week? These are all things the Braves must weigh while deciding whether they should keep their top prospect in the Majors.
¡°Just being realistic, I knew [being sent down] was kind of a possibility,¡± Baldwin said. ¡°That was motivation for me to be as ready as I can be for when these moments come up, just to prove to them that I can stay in this spot.¡±