Gaurav VedakWed, December 3, 2025 at 7:00 PM UTC·2 min readHow Acquired
Drew was an undrafted free agent signed in 2023 following the MLB Draft. What Were Expectations?Drew showed some promise in 2024, hitting .289/.394/.414 in 110 games across Augusta and Rome. Because of it, and his good production in college, there were some expectations brewing for Drew because of his ability to switch hit and hit for some decent power. Because of this strong performance, Drew was named the starting first baseman for the Columbus Clingstones in 2025 with some promise.
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While the expectations might have been a bit bigger, Drew was solid in 2025 hitting .251/.326/.341 in 112 games. His walk rate did drop a bit, though still strong, at 10%. The strikeout rate, however, jumped all the way to 26% after sitting at 17% most of last year. The result was his OBP dropping to .326 and his wRC+ sitting at just 101, a big fall from 144 the year before.
What Went Right?
Health. Drew played 112 games, after playing 110 games in 2024. While the walk rate did fall, it still sat a very respectable 10%. He hit a respectable .256 batting average as a LHB, but walked a lot more as a lefty to bring his OBP up to .352 on that side of the plate.
What Went Wrong?
The rise in strikeouts which saw his strikeout rate rise from 17% to 26% was a flag – especially against the higher ceiling arms in Double-A. While he walked at a high rate from the right, he struggled at the plate, hitting .230/.362/.299. 2026 Outlook
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhile it’s expected for hitters to struggle in their Double-A debut, seeing his strikeout rate climb that high was a concern. That said, first base is a position of weakness for the Braves, and they simply have to hold onto him because of his ability to switch hit and his power potential. Drew will enter the season at 25 years of age, so it will be a big year as he tries to find his way to the majors.
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