NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Eddie Perez was nearing the end of his playing days when he recommended the Braves bring a Double-A catcher named Brian McCann to the big leagues. Twenty years later, he is mentoring someone who has a chance to become Atlanta’s next great catcher.

“[Drake Baldwin] reminds me of Brian McCann a lot,” said Perez, who fills multiple roles as a Major League coach on Atlanta’s staff. “Brian was a great hitter and he needed to work hard as a catcher, with his receiving and throwing. He became one of the best. I see this kid the same way. He’s learning, and he likes to learn.”

This already has the makings of being a special year for Baldwin, who ranks as baseball’s No. 62 prospect and the Braves' No. 1 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The defensive strides he has made have positioned him to become a big league mainstay, possibly as early as this year. In other words, his time on Atlanta’s roster might not be limited to the week or two he spends as the primary catcher while Sean Murphy begins the season on the injured list with a cracked left rib.

Baldwin started at catcher and hit an RBI single in the Braves' 5-3 loss to the Nationals on Friday.

“He’s going to have a great season, either here or in the Minor Leagues,” Perez said. “But we need him now. He’s our guy now, and I’m happy about it. When Murph got hurt, I was like, ‘Oh God.’ But now I’m not afraid to see [Baldwin play]. I’m not afraid to put him in there and try to win games, because that’s what he can help you do.”

Braves manager Brian Snitker was the Double-A Mississippi skipper who had the pleasure of telling McCann he was heading to the Majors after Johnny Estrada was sidelined by a concussion a couple months into the 2005 season.

“I told [former Braves manager] Bobby [Cox] you’re not going to want to give this guy back, and he didn’t,” Snitker said.

McCann earned seven All-Star selections over the eight full seasons (2006-13) he spent with Atlanta. He homered off Roger Clemens during his first career postseason at-bat during Game 2 of the 2005 NLDS. He was also a more polished prospect than Baldwin.

But Baldwin’s desire to improve has helped create confidence that he’ll be ready whenever called upon this year.

“He’s coming,” Snitker said. “I’ve been very impressed. There’s a lot to digest as a young catcher in today’s game with the game planning and knowing our guys. Our pitchers have been good about talking to him about their outings. He’s going to be OK.”

Chris Sale and Reynaldo López have both extended a vote of confidence after recently throwing to Baldwin. There’s never been any doubt about the 23-year-old catcher’s ability to hit. He showed his offensive potential last year when he constructed a .891 OPS over 334 plate appearances at the Triple-A level. His opposite-field power was seen with the home run he hit at the 2024 Futures Game.

But Baldwin is no longer considered a bat-only catcher. His throwing strength significantly improved with a mechanical alteration that keeps him from flying open with his throws. His overall understanding of the position has been aided by 36-year-old catcher Sandy León, who is back in Atlanta’s camp after spending last summer with the young catcher at Triple-A.

“I was worried before Spring Training,” Perez said. “I was thinking we’d have to work a lot on throwing and receiving. But he’s surprised me big time. He’s not bad.”

When Murphy returns from the injured list, the Braves could send Baldwin to Triple-A to further develop. But there’s also a chance they would opt to keep him at the big league level even if he was playing just once or twice a week. The aim would be to give him a chance to get a better feel for game calling, while being around Murphy, Perez, the big league starting pitchers and analytics staff.