Shortly after Sunday’s game against the Miami Marlins was postponed due to inclement
weather, the Atlanta Braves added catcher Sean Murphy to their major league roster. Murphy,
who had just completed a rehab assignment in Gwinett, will likely make his first appearance this
season on Tuesday evening when the Braves host the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies at
Truist Park. Murphy missed the final month of spring training games and the first week of the
regular season after being hit by a pitch during a February 28th Spring Training game against
the Marlins.
The Braves traded for Murphy in December of 2022, sending catcher William Contreras to the
Milwaukee Brewers and pitcher Kyle Mueller to the Athletics. The trade looked to have initially
paid dividends for the Braves, with Murphy posting a 0.306 batting average with 17 doubles and
17 home runs in the first half of 2023 en route to his first-career All-Star Game appearance.
However, Murphy’s production took a significant dip in the second half of the season, posting a
0.159 batting average with four home runs in 40 games. The catcher’s 2024 campaign was
upended thanks to a left oblique strain on Opening Day in Philadelphia, which sidelined him for
two months. He finished the season with a 0.193 batting average, 10 home runs, and 0.636
OPS (On Base + Slug Percentage). The 1-8 Braves, who have struggled offensively thus far in
their first nine games this season, will need a performance from Murphy that mirrors his final
season with the Athletics and the first half of 2023. Atlanta’s pitching staff, moreover, should
welcome the news of Murphy’s return. Braves pitchers accumulated a combined 2.85 ERA
(Earned Runs Average) last season with Murphy Murphy behind the plate, as opposed to a 3.93
ERA without him. The hope is also that his arm continues to be an asset, as he caught 19
runners stealing in 2023 and 15 last season despite starting in 31 fewer games.
To accommodate the move, the Braves designated catcher Chadwick Tromp for assignment,
meaning rookie catcher Drake Baldwin will remain on the team’s major league roster.
