A look at the latest Braves' injury updates.
The Atlanta Braves are dealing with multiple injury concerns ahead of the upcoming 2026 MLB season. Catcher Sean Murphy and shortstop Ha-Seong Kim are both expected to miss Opening Day this year. Mark Bowman of MLB.com recently provided the latest updates on the Braves players.
Murphy is recovering from a hip injury while Kim is dealing with a finger injury. According to Bowman, the Braves are "hopeful" that both Kim and Murphy will be able to return in May.
Murphy and Kim's injuries are obviously far from ideal. That goes without saying. If they both end up only missing one or two months of the regular season, though, they would still be able to impact the ball club for most of the 2026 campaign.
Sean Murphy
Murphy, 31, is a former All-Star. He struggled through 94 games played in 2025, however. The veteran backstop slashed just .199/.300/.409 in his 337 plate appearances.
Murphy hit 16 home runs and 13 doubles while also playing a crucial role in helping the pitching staff. He still provides value, but his offensive decline is notable. Perhaps he can get back on track once he is fully recovered from his injury.
With Murphy out to at least begin the new season, Drake Baldwin is expected to start behind the plate for the Braves. If Baldwin performs at a high level, one has to wonder if the Braves would consider trading Murphy down the road. That is only speculation, though.
Ha-Seong Kim
Kim re-signed with the Braves this offseason. As a result, Atlanta believed it had its starting shortstop for the '26 campaign. Now, he is dealing with a hand injury and will miss at least the start of the season.
The 30-year-old spent time with both the Tampa Bay Rays and the Braves in 2025. He struggled with Tampa Bay, hitting just .214, but saw his numbers increase in Atlanta. Across 98 games played, the infielder recorded a .253/.316/.368 slash line. His numbers still did not jump off the page, but they were an improvement nonetheless.
Kim is also a strong defender at a premier position. The Braves were ready to trust him as their starting shortstop. At the moment, it appears Mauricio Dubon will take over shortstop unless the Braves sign or trade for another player.
Kim will likely return to the position once he is healthy, so Atlanta may trust Dubon for the first month of the season.