At the end of each calendar year, the Prep Baseball Wisconsin staff reflects back on the 10 most intriguing headlines that surrounded the baseball scene in the Badger State. Through the end of the month, we will break down the most impactful storylines from an eventful 2025 campaign, ending with our No. 1 story revealed today, Dec. 31.

2025 was a big year for baseball in and around the state of Wisconsin for both the current prep players and the former prep players. With multiple former prep players starting their pro and collegiate careers while others are still building towards their post high school careers. Furthermore the amount of former Wisconsin preps that are making an impact at the MLB level continues to increase year-over-year with one prep receiving a very prestigious award at the highest level of the game during his Rookie season.

Madison West grad C Drake Baldwin (2019) would produce one of the top seasons from a rookie this year enroute to a 3+ WAR season by both Fangraphs and Baseball Reference while producing as a top offensive catcher in baseball swatting 19 home runs with an .810 OPS with minimal swing-and-miss to his game while being named the National League Rookie of the Year.

Drake Baldwin is the 2025 NL Rookie of the Year 🏆@Braves x @officialBBWAA pic.twitter.com/Qo0dUwoQu3

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 11, 2025

AS A PREP…

Baldwin was someone our staff identified early on in his prep career as a top player in the state after a standout performance in his showcase debut and maintained his status as a top player in the state throughout his prep career.

From 2019 Top Prospect Games: “Physically advanced 6-foot, 186-pound left-handed hitting catcher, strong sturdy build. Offensively stance is open, smooth loading action, short stride, maintains strong balance. Hard contact, ball jumped off the barrel, showed some barrel control. Mostly pull side contact, path works around the ball some with raw bat speed and strength. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. 4.43 runner down the line, well above average athlete. Showed easy arm strength, short high ¾ slot, 76 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.12-2.31, raw athlete out of the crouch.”

From 2017 Madison Preseason ID: “Strong athletic build on a 6-foot-186-pound frame, left-handed hitting catcher. Offensively hits from an open stance, tall setup, rhythmic load, short stride, good balance. Loose hands generate bat speed, gap to gap type, occasional hard lifted pull side contact. 92 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 76 mph out of the crouch, short over the top slot. 1.97-2.10 pop times, quick feet out of the chute, strong, durable athletic receiver. High follow uncommitted 2019 prospect.”

From Midwest Procase: “Missouri State commit. 6-foot, 190-pound, left-handed hitting catcher, strong, durable build. Offensively, relaxed, open setup, rhythmic back load, knee to knee leg kick trigger, balance maintained throughout. Hands are strong and loose, short to the ball, gets extension through the hitting zone, comes off the bat hard, occasional top spin, goes with the pitch. Present bat speed, exit velocity topped 88 mph from a tee. Defensively, pop times ranged from 1.98-2.09. Natural/smooth instincts behind the plate, fleet footed, receives in rhythm, soft hands to quick and clean exchange, short/easy arm, over the top slot, clean release, accurate throws topped 77 mph from the crouch. Present foot speed, 6.95 runner in the 60.”

COLLEGE CAREER

Baldwin would even receive some draft attention heading into his senior year, before ultimately going on to Missouri State and having a standout three-year career hitting .317 with 61 walks to 62 strikeouts. Earning a number of looks his junior year heading into the draft

From May 5, 2022 against Indiana State: “Heading into the 2022 spring season most teams had Baldwin as a likely Day Three pick. He has risen throughout the season and is now projected as a mid-Day Two selection. The 6-foot, 220-pounder has a well-rounded toolset with average arm strength and raw power. He also has a chance to hit for average, while producing 10-12 home runs per season. The only question mark is his receiving. Some say yes, others do not believe he can stick behind the plate. For the season the left handed hitter is slashing .319/.443/.548 with nine home runs and 40 RBI. Even more importantly his K rate is just 13%, walking 32 times against 28 strikeouts in 210 plate appearances. He has also thrown out 8 of 36 (22%) base stealers with just two passed balls this spring.”

PATH TO THE BIG LEAGUES

Baldwin would continue to turn heads as he got into the Braves minor league system. After being drafted in the 3rd round at the end of the 2022 season Baldwin would hit at nearly every stop on his way to the MLB. Rising three levels in 2023 and ending the year in Triple A and following it up in 2024 with a home run while playing in the MLB All-Star Futures Game before being named the Organization's Player of the Year by some outlets.

Baldwin would make his MLB debut as a part of the Opening Day roster for the Braves in 2025 and was a consistent presence in the starting lineup throughout the season eventually making his way into the middle-of-the-order by season's end. Somewhat of a statistical darling with the batted ball and swing data regularly grading out well above-average showing a clear offensive ceiling that he can continue to build on.

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