What's next for Braves catcher Sean Murphy?
The Atlanta Braves are playing the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night. Before the game, an important update was revealed. According to Grant McAuley, catcher Sean Murphy had his first injury rehab game on Tuesday. The backstop went 0-2 at the plate, but he did catch four innings.
Murphy is recovering from a hip injury. He has yet to play this season.
The fact that Murphy was able to catch four innings is encouraging. Atlanta will not over-think his 0-2 performance from an offensive standpoint. Right now, the goal for Murphy is to get through these games without any injury setbacks.
So, what's next for Murphy?
McAuley reports that the veteran catcher will have an off day on Wednesday. On Thursday, Murphy will catch in another rehab game, as Spencer Strider -- who is also recovering from an injury -- will start the contest.
It will be a big contest for Murphy. Catching just a couple of days after his first rehab start will be a challenge. He is seemingly nearing a return to the big leagues, so he should be fine as long as no setbacks occur.
Sean Murphy Hoping to Make Impact With Braves
Murphy, 31, was once considered to be one of the best catchers in the entire sport. He has struggled in recent seasons, though. Injuries have impacted him as well.
In 2025, Murphy ended up playing in 94 total contests. The veteran backstop recorded an underwhelming slash line of .199/.300/.409 across 337 plate appearances.
This is the same player who was an All-Star in 2023 -- which happened to be his first season with the Braves following a trade from the Athletics.
Perhaps Murphy will find his All-Star form once again in the future. At the very least, it would not be surprising to see him hit at a much more respectable level following his return from the hip injury.
Drake Baldwin has become the team's starting catcher. The reigning Rookie of the Year looks like a future star. Still, Murphy should be able to have opportunities to make an impact with the Braves. He can help in both the catcher and designated hitter roles.
At the moment, Murphy will continue to work his way back from injury. It seems as if Tuesday was successful overall for him. The Braves will continue to monitor and provide updates on Sean Murphy's injury status as they are made available.