The Atlanta Braves may be out of postseason contention in 2025, but they just wrapped up one of their most impressive series of the season. Fresh off their four-game sweep of the Washington Nationals, Matt Olson and the rest of the Braves offense put up a boatload of runs in D.C.
It feels as if the Braves lineup is showcasing their upside and trying to excite fans for the potential of next season. However, one important bat in the middle of the Braves lineup has gone cold at the absolute worst time.
Drake Baldwin's September slump could cost Braves an extra top draft pick
It's been well documented that Drake Baldwin winning National League Rookie of the Year would earn the Braves an additional pick after the first round in next year's draft. Baldwin has been amongst the favorites to win NL Rookie of the Year basically all season thanks to his stellar performance for most of the season. Sadly, Baldwin has gone into his worst stretch of baseball at the most inopportune time.
For all of 2025, Baldwin has a 116 wRC+ and .774 OPS. However, for the month of September, Baldwin's has a 39 wRC+ and .506 OPS. Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that Baldwin's biggest competition has gotten scorching hot down the stretch. Right-handed pitcher Cade Horton of the Chicago Cubs has been one of the best pitchers in baseball post All-Star break.
Horton's ERA post All-Star break is a minuscule 0.93, and his September numbers fall right in line with a 1.10 ERA. The trajectories of Baldwin's and Horton's final stretch could be enough to sway voters off the overall body of work. Both players are close in terms of Fangraphs WAR (Baldwin 2.5 fWAR, Horton 2.2 fWAR), and any marginal reason voters can find to pick a guy they will likely use it.
Even worse for Baldwin's case is the fact that Horton is pitching the Cubs toward a postseason spot, meanwhile the Braves have been playing meaningless baseball games since August. Overall, things are trending in the wrong direction for the Braves and the eventual cost could be the a prized first round pick.