In a season where more went wrong than right, Drake Baldwin taking home National League Rookie of the Year honors is more than just a nice silver lining for the Atlanta Braves, but also a building block for better days ahead.
After a stellar rookie season that saw Baldwin take on a larger role earlier than expected, thanks to Sean Murphy going down in spring training with a cracked rib, Baldwin didn't just sneak out with the award; he dominated the voting.
A .274/.341/.469 line with 19 homers made the selection an easy one, but the historic context of Baldwin's rookie year shines a light on just how easy he made it on the voters.