MLB's official X account took time to celebrate the Atlanta Braves and the National League East for dominating the Rookie of the Year conversation. The tweet highlights AJ Smith-Shawver, Drake Baldwin, Agustín Ramírez, Luisangel Acuña, and Dylan Crews. Fittingly, it is the two Atlanta rookies sitting atop the current rankings.
This aligns with DraftKings Sportsbook, which has given AJ Smith-Shawver the shortest odds at +350, closely followed by Drake Baldwin at +370.
DraftKings has Agustín Ramírez as the biggest threat to upset the Atlanta duo, with odds currently sitting at +650. This major change speaks to how likely it is that one Atlanta rookie is going to end the 2025 season as the Rookie of the Year. If given enough at-bats while platooning with Sean Murphy, there is no question that it should be Drake Baldwin earning the honor.
Drake Baldwin Has Impacted Winning More Consistently Than AJ Smith-Shawver
In truth, as long as both players continue on their current trajectory, there isn't a wrong answer for the league. Smith-Shawver has been dominant, finally living up to his top-of-the-rotation talent. However, this was after a demotion and a couple of rough outings to start the year. If the race is going to remain this close, the honor should go to Drake Baldwin.
Imagine how the Atlanta lineup would have fared in the last weeks without the rookie's contributions. Yes, Smith-Shawver has been dominating, but Atlanta has other options that give the team a chance to win. If there is a full season of Drake Baldwin hitting at this current level while playing by far the most demanding defensive position, the honor should be his.
One potential roadblock to this is Brian Snitker continuing to prefer Sean Murphy in the Atlanta lineup. Despite Baldwin putting up superior offensive numbers, the catcher hasn't won the bulk of the team's starts as of yet. This is the biggest concern that could prevent the rookie catcher from earning enough at-bats.
Regardless, there really isn't a wrong answer for a team that not only has their current window of contention open, but now has reason for excitement for the future. A young core of Spencer Schwellenbach, Michael Harris, Baldwin, and Smith-Shawver is giving Atlanta fans reason to believe they are going to be relevant for years to come.
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