Drake Baldwin will start behind the plate for the National League in Tuesday night’s 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park. For the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, it’s a moment that goes way beyond baseball.
His mother, Bridgette Baldwin, will be there watching from Philadelphia—more than two decades after she first signed up her energetic 3-year-old for T-ball in Madison, Wisconsin.
“She was with me in January for the Rookie of the Year dinner. I’m sure it will feel similar. It’s just a reminder that everything she did has paid off. This is something I never thought I’d get to, and I know I wouldn’t get there without her.”
Baldwin’s rise has been meteoric since making his debut with Atlanta. The young catcher quickly established himself as one of baseball’s brightest prospects through his defensive work, game-calling ability and productive bat.
That’s what earned him the starting nod for the National League in his first All-Star Game.
Baldwin has become integral to the Braves’ success this season, providing stability behind the plate while developing into one of the game’s top young backstops. His emergence also helped Atlanta navigate injuries and stay competitive among NL contenders.
What makes this even more impressive? Baldwin admits an MLB All-Star selection wasn’t even on his radar just a few years ago.
“I thought that was super cool,”
Baldwin said of playing in the 2021 Northwoods League All-Star Game while at Missouri State.
“I thought that was like the coolest thing I’ll do, and obviously, this is a whole different level.”
His journey from Missouri State to Atlanta has exceeded nearly every expectation. The Braves selected Baldwin in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft, and he steadily climbed through the organization’s farm system before becoming a cornerstone of the club’s future.
Now, with his mother cheering from the stands, Baldwin will take the field among baseball’s biggest stars. It’s a dream that neither of them could have imagined when it all began on a T-ball field in Wisconsin.
