Braves Prospects on the Rise: Are Baldwin and Smith-Shawver the Future Stars? 

The Atlanta Braves are making waves in the prospect world with Drake Baldwin and AJ Smith-Shawver landing on FanGraphs' Top 100 Prospects list for 2025. Baldwin's impressive ranking at No. 11 has fans buzzing, while Smith-Shawver's No. 40 spot showcases the depth of talent in the Braves' system.

But let's dive deeper into this. Baldwin is being touted as a potential impact catcher, with a hard-hit rate that could translate into significant offensive contributions. However, there are concerns about how he might handle big league pitching, especially with velocity on the outer third. Do you think he can adapt quickly enough to avoid being exploited at the major league level?

On the other hand, Smith-Shawver's journey from a fastball/slider projection to a big league debut before turning 21 is nothing short of remarkable. His mechanical consistency is still a work in progress, and the need for a reliable slider could be a make-or-break factor for his success. How crucial do you think it is for young pitchers to develop secondary pitches early in their careers?

As we look ahead to the 2025 season, both players are on the cusp of potentially breaking into the MLB. What are your bold predictions for their impact this season? Will they both secure a spot on the roster, or do you foresee one of them making a more significant splash than the other?

Let’s hear your thoughts on these rising stars and what their futures might hold for the Braves!

Drake Baldwin: The Bat-First Backstop with Real Upside
Baldwin at No. 11 is massive. That ranking reflects belief not just in his offensive ceiling, but in the modern MLB’s increasing comfort with catchers who can hit first and grow defensively over time. Think of guys like:

Willson Contreras (early years with Chicago)

William Contreras (ironically, another Braves product)

Strengths:

Baldwin crushes velocity when it’s over the plate.

His hard-hit rate and barrel control project a 20+ HR bat with OBP upside.

Concerns:

Big league arms are going to attack that outer-third weakness with 95+ and nasty sliders. If he can’t lay off or shorten up, it’ll be a learning curve.

Defense is average—so he has to hit.

Prediction: He doesn’t break camp with the Braves, but by midseason, if Sean Murphy or Travis d’Arnaud deals with injuries or slumps, Baldwin could sneak into a backup/DH hybrid role. Long-term? He’s a potential middle-of-the-order catcher, which is gold in this league.

AJ Smith-Shawver: The High-Ceiling Wild Card
Smith-Shawver at No. 40 might even be underrated when you consider his age-to-level leap and the raw tools.

Strengths:

Explosive fastball and flashes of an elite slider.

Already got a taste of the bigs, which means he’s on the org’s radar to contribute now.

Needs Work:

Command can vanish mid-outing.

Lacks that go-to third pitch to keep hitters honest, especially lefties.

The slider’s development is absolutely crucial. Without it, he’s a flame-throwing middle reliever. With it? He’s a No. 2 starter. And Atlanta knows this—expect them to prioritize that in Gwinnett or via piggyback starts.

Prediction: He makes spot starts in 2025 due to injury or schedule crunch, with a 50/50 shot at sticking in the rotation by August. But unless the command tightens, they may use him more strategically out of the bullpen come playoff time—think Spencer Strider-lite in 2022.

Bold Takes for 2025:
Baldwin hits .265/.340/.435 in 150+ PA if given regular time post-ASB.

Smith-Shawver has a sub-3.80 ERA in 75 innings, mostly in a hybrid role.

One of them is on the NLDS roster—my bet’s on AJ due to versatility.