Drake Baldwin Returns as Braves Reassign Austin Wynns

drake baldwin is back on the Braves’ active roster after being reinstated from the 10-day injured list, giving Atlanta another catcher option ahead of the Giants series. The move also pushes Austin Wynns to Triple-A Gwinnett and trims the 40-man roster count to 39.

Baldwin Back After May Absence

Baldwin had been sidelined since May with an oblique strain, while Sean Murphy also went on the injured list in May because of a finger fracture. Atlanta had to patch together the position after both catchers were unavailable, and Sandy León and Chadwick Tromp were added to cover the workload.

The return gives the Braves a cleaner catching picture than the one they had been working through for weeks. Baldwin’s roster spot was restored, and the club will go with León as the backup behind him.

Wynns Heads To Gwinnett

To make room, the Braves outrighted Wynns to Triple-A Gwinnett after acquiring him from the Angels earlier this month. He went 1 for 14 in 14 plate appearances with Atlanta, and he has at least five years of big league service time.

That service time gives Wynns the right to reject the outright assignment and elect free agency. He had finished last season with the Athletics, then agreed to a $1.1MM salary with that club before being designated for assignment, released, and later signing a minor league deal with the Angels before the trade to Atlanta.

For the Braves, the immediate change is straightforward: Baldwin is available again, León stays in the backup role, and the catching group is back to a shape Atlanta had not had since the injuries hit in May.