It is safe to say that through the 2026 season's first five games, Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin has been one of the team's biggest standout performers. In his first 22 plate appearances, Baldwin has posted a .263/.364/.737 line with three homers and more walks than strikeouts. Yes, it is a small sample, but it not only aligns with what we saw from him last year and during camp, but it also compares well to the early career of the best catcher in franchise history, Brian McCann.
McCann needs little introduction to most Braves fans. Despite falling off the Hall of Fame ballot in his first year of eligibility, McCann was an elite catcher for the first eight-plus years he played in Atlanta and had successful stints with the Yankees (gross) and Astros as well. When Braves fans think about those Atlanta teams in the early 2000's, McCann had a prominent role.
With Baldwin continuing his own ascendance this season, it is somewhat surprising to see the similarities between the two players, which bodes well for the Braves' young catcher for the moment.
Drake Baldwin and Brian McCann have some fascinating early-career similarities
Some of the characteristics Baldwin and McCann share are pretty simple. Both are power-hitting catchers who are left-handed hitters. Both players were also relatively early draft picks by the Braves, with McCann being a second-round pick out of Duluth High School while Baldwin was selected in the third round out of Missouri State. Both players also spent around three seasons in the minor leagues as well, although McCann debuted at a younger age thanks to being drafted out of high school.
The similarities don't end there, though. Obviously, Baldwin took home Rookie of the Year honors last year. While McCann wasn't eligible has his partial 2005 season wasn't quite enough to get consideration, both players put together strong offensive seasons in their first full seasons in the majors, though McCann's insane .961 OPS in 2006 does carry the day in comparison. It is hard to do a direct comparison of numbers as Baldwin still needs another 200 plate appearances or so to make things match up, but it won't be a surprise at all if their numbers at the plate look very similar once he catches up to McCann's first two seasons.
Given what we are seeing right now, that bodes extremely well for Baldwin's future projection. McCann would go on to make seven All-Star teams and win six Silver Sluggers. Baldwin is already being predicted by some to become one of the best catchers in baseball this season. Given how closely the start of his career mirrors one of the better players in Braves history, those predictions may prove to be spot on.