2025 has been a year to remember for Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin. He came into spring training with little chance of starting the season in the big leagues and instead was pressed into service following a rib injury to Sean Murphy. Baldwin seized the opportunity and not only held his own, but he excelled and ended up winning NL Rookie of the Year.
It is hard to top that sort of run if you are a baseball player other than also making the playoff which, sadly, was not in the cards for the Braves this year. However, Baldwin found another way to make this year even better as it was revealed on social media that Baldwin just graduated from college.
Drake Baldwin celebrated his ROY win by graduating from college this offseason
First of all, it is honestly wild that Baldwin found the time to actually finish his degree at Missouri State where he starred on their baseball team before the Braves' drafted him. Baldwin majored in business while in school and appeared to be a really good student. However, the number of guys that get drafted, make it to the major leagues, and go back to finish their degree while they are playing is a very small list.
The move is also probably a smart one. Not only should more players prepare for life after their baseball careers end, but Baldwin is making real money right now. Learning how to make sound financial decisions with his money now should pay big dividends for him down the road and it couldn't hurt to have the degree if he decides to slide into a front office someday.
The next question is that if Baldwin is capable of being one of the Braves' best hitters as a rookie despite also working on finishing his degree in the background, how good will he be now that his school work is officially done? One hopes that he could reach even greater heights in 2026 now that his homework days are over.