Drake Baldwin Makes a Splashy Return with MLB's Longest Homer of the Season

Drake Baldwin is back, and he made quite the statement in his return. The Atlanta Braves catcher rejoined the team on Tuesday after spending nearly a month on the 10-day injured list due to an oblique strain, and he wasted no time in showcasing his talent by hitting a leadoff home run against the San Francisco Giants. This was no ordinary home run; it was a remarkable shot off the bat of Giants pitcher Adrian Houser.

Baldwin launched a 94.6 mph sinker into the depths of center field, sending it an impressive 473 feet away, as measured by Statcast. The ball left his bat at a blistering speed of 112.8 mph, marking it as the longest home run in Major League Baseball this season. The previous record was held by Seth Halvorsen of the Colorado Rockies, who hit a 471-foot homer last week during a record-setting game.

Before his injury, Baldwin, who is a frontrunner for the 2025 NL Rookie of the Year, was enjoying a breakout season. Leading up to his stint on the IL, he boasted an impressive batting average of .303 with a .389 on-base percentage and .543 slugging percentage, including 13 home runs over 48 games. His performance has been so strong that he led the National League catchers in All-Star voting, significantly ahead of Will Smith from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With Baldwin back in the lineup, fans can expect his momentum to continue as the Braves look to build on their season.