MIAMI – The Braves could be without one of their biggest contributors for an extended stretch.
Drake Baldwin, who leads all big league catchers with 13 homers, was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a right oblique strain.
The club selected the contract of catcher Chadwick Tromp and activated left-hander Dylan Dodd from the injured list in corresponding moves. Dodd returned to the bullpen after missing time with left thoracic spine inflammation.
Baldwin had recently moved into the leadoff role after Ronald Acuña Jr. landed on the injured list with a left hamstring strain. Acuna was reinstated Monday ahead of the series opener at loanDepot park and was in Tuesday's starting lineup hitting leadoff as the designated hitter.
“If there is a silver lining, we get to replace Baldwin with a guy named Ronald Acuña. Not many teams get to do that, so that's the good news there,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “Truth be told, we're losing arguably our best hitter, right?
“Drake has been unbelievable, but we talked about our depth. I've talked about how we're better equipped to deal with the challenges of a Major League season, and this is one of those examples.”
According to Weiss, Baldwin first felt discomfort during his penultimate at-bat in Monday’s 12-0 loss to Miami. The catcher stayed in the game before exiting after a lineout in the sixth, though there were no obvious signs of injury.
“[Baldwin] felt a little something, but it wasn't a big deal, he thought, and then felt a little more after that last at bat, before I took him out of the game,” Weiss said. “Obliques are obliques, and they're never fun to deal with, but the tests that they put him through today were not terrible relative to obliques. He's back in Atlanta getting an MRI, so we'll know more after the tests are done.”
Sandy León replaced him behind the plate and is expected to split catching duties with Tromp.
In just his second big league season, Baldwin is second on the Braves in bWAR with 2.2, and he's second to Matt Olson in homers, slugging percentage (.543) and OPS (.932). The reigning NL Rookie of the Year, Baldwin has played in all 48 of the Braves' games this season.
The Braves also released left-hander Aaron Bummer, optioned right-hander JR Ritchie to Triple-A Gwinnett and recalled right-hander Victor Mederos.
Bummer’s departure came one day after he allowed six runs against Miami. The veteran, who signed a two-year $13 million deal in 2024, walked five batters, surrendered a grand slam to Javier Sanoja and later gave up a solo homer to Xavier Edwards. He accumulated a 7.63 ERA through 15 1/3 innings this season.
“[I felt] like he was turning the corner, the last few outings,” Weiss said. “It's just [that] he's working through some things, and just the shape of our bullpen, it's tough to carry him trying to find some things.”
Ritchie also struggled in the series opener, allowing six runs on six hits across four innings while striking out four. The 22-year-old owns a 4.91 ERA in five appearances since debuting on April 23 against Washington, when he allowed two runs and struck out seven over seven innings – becoming the first Braves pitcher to do so in their MLB debut.
Weiss said Ritchie’s option was more about roster construction than performance, as Atlanta needed additional bullpen help and was unlikely to continue carrying six starters.
“He's a very talented kid. He's going to be a big part of this moving forward,” Weiss said. “He's shown that he can defend himself even in tough innings at the Major League level. So he's got all the makings of a good one.”
The immediate help needed in the bullpen on Tuesday is where Dodd and Mederos come in.
“The fact that they trusted me to be able to come in here,” Mederos said. “They've been playing amazing baseball. I mean, they're number one for a reason. So, just being able to contribute, to do the best that I possibly can to help the organization, help the team win. That's all I'm here for.”
Mederos has yet to pitch in the Majors this season. Across parts of the 2023-25 campaigns, the right-hander has posted an 8.53 ERA with 22 strikeouts in seven appearances, including three starts.
“It's gonna be fun when we get back to full strength at some point,” Weiss said. “Going to be a nice ride at that point.”