Drake Baldwin’s emotional All-Star story will melt Braves fans’ hearts

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Drake Baldwin’s remarkable rise to Major League Baseball will come full circle Tuesday night when he starts behind the plate for the National League in the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park. But for Baldwin, the moment is about more than baseball—it’s about sharing it with the person who helped make it possible.

His mother, Bridgette Baldwin, will be in Philadelphia to witness her son’s first All-Star appearance, more than two decades after she first signed the energetic 3-year-old up for T-ball in Madison, Wisconsin.

“She was with me in January for the Rookie of the Year dinner,” Baldwin said. “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.”

The reigning National League Rookie of the Year has enjoyed a meteoric rise. After making his major league debut with Atlanta, Baldwin quickly established himself as one of baseball’s brightest young catchers. His strong defensive play, game-calling ability and productive bat earned him the starting nod for the National League in his first All-Star Game.

Baldwin key part of Braves success

Baldwin has become an integral part of the Braves’ success this season, providing stability behind the plate while continuing to develop into one of the game’s top young backstops. His emergence also helped Atlanta navigate injuries and maintain its place among the National League contenders.

Baldwin admitted that 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. Selected by the Braves in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft, Baldwin 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—living out a dream that neither of them could have imagined when it all began on a T-ball field in Wisconsin.