The Atlanta Braves lost a player on Monday.
The Atlanta Braves catching group has experienced multiple setbacks this year due to injuries. Sean Murphy, the projected backup catcher expected to split time with 2025 National League Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin, has played just four games this year due to offseason right hip surgery and a broken left middle finger suffered in early May.
Baldwin too missed nearly a month from May into June with an oblique strain before returning last week. As a result, the Braves were forced to scrounge for answers behind the plate, turning to 37-year-old veteran Sandy Leon to help bridge the gap and provide quality starts.
Leon signed a major-league contract with Atlanta on May 12 and appeared in 21 games for the Braves. However, his time with the organization has now come to an end.
"The Braves outrighted Sandy Leon to Triple-A Gwinnett, and he elected free agency," reported Harrison Smajovits of Braves On SI.
The move was made because of Atlanta's trade for catcher Joey Bart from the Pittsburgh Pirates last week, which made Leon expendable. With more than enough service time to reject an outright assignment, Leon exercised that right and has now returned to the open market.
His production this year made the decision straightforward. Across 21 games with the Braves, Leon slashed owned a .091 batting average with no home runs or RBIs. He was a non-factor at the plate, though his reputation behind the plate has always been his calling card.
Leon has been a strong defensive player throughout his 14-year MLB career which has allowed him to suit up for several organization.
Leon is now a free agent once again, with Atlanta being his seventh organization. It would not be surprising to see him resurface on a new minor-league deal, potentially back with the Braves given his familiarity with the organization. He was outrighted multiple times in 2025 but returned to Atlanta every time.
For now, the Braves will move forward with Baldwin and Bart behind the plate, with Murphy still working his way back from injury.
The catching situation is in a far better place than it was just weeks ago when the team was relying on Chadwick Tromp as well. Leon played a meaningful role managing the pitching staff during one of the more difficult stretches of the season for this Braves. However, there was simply no space for him on the 40-man roster anymore.
