PITTSBURGH — Failure has rarely found Drake Baldwin. But after rejoining the Atlanta Braves in late June following a right oblique strain that had him out for nearly a month, the 25-year-old catcher endured a 2-for-43 skid and looked like a shell of himself at the plate.The upbeat energy Baldwin typically brought into his clubhouse had become muted. The bright smile that lit up the room grew rare. On the field, every at-bat — including a run of 33 consecutive hitless plate appearances — seemed to end in frustration.But as Baldwin sat alongside Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies during the Braves’ news conference introducing their five All-Stars last weekend, there was no wiping the smile from his face. Although the 2025 National League rookie of the year was experiencing the toughest slump of his career, he was still headed to Philadelphia for his first All-Star Game, along with teammates Olson, Albies, Chris Sale and Raisel Iglesias.Amid the most difficult stretch of his time as a professional — and perhaps dating back to his youth — Baldwin took the nod as a powerful reminder that he belonged.“I sat back, it’s like, ‘I’m an All-Star,’’’ Baldwin said. “I can have the confidence that I am one of the better players in the league. The confidence and self-belief definitely helps me.”It showed almost instantly. Baldwin, voted in by fans to start Tuesday night’s game at Citizens Bank Park, homered the day after the announcement, smashing the first pitch he saw from New York Mets reliever Huascar Brazobán to the opposite field for a grand slam.