Braves catcher Sean Murphy may not be ready for Opening Day in 2026.
The Atlanta Braves have received a significant update regarding catcher Sean Murphy as the team prepares for the 2026 MLB season. According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, Murphy is expected to miss the start of the year while continuing to recover from right hip surgery.
“Some of you are currently saying, ‘Why not use Sean Murphy to land a starting pitcher?’ Well, it sounds like Murphy will miss the start of the season while recovering from right hip surgery,” Bowman reported on Saturday.
That comment highlights the speculation surrounding Murphy’s future. With the Braves still searching for rotation depth, many have wondered if trading Murphy could be a way to acquire pitching from another organization. However, his injury status makes such a move complicated.
Teams are unlikely to pay full value for a catcher coming off major surgery, and Atlanta remains committed to Murphy after signing him to a six-year, $73 million extension in December 2022. For now, the organization views him as part of its long-term core, not a trade chip.
Murphy’s importance to Atlanta was clear in 2023, his first season with the club. He earned an All-Star selection and posted a .251/.365/.478 slash line with 21 home runs and 68 RBIs while continuing to provide elite defense behind the plate. His ability to manage the pitching staff and control the running game gave the Braves stability at catcher.
Since then, injuries have disrupted his production. In 2024 he suffered an oblique strain and later a cracked rib, limiting him to 72 games. In 2025, a right hip labral tear required season-ending surgery, raising questions about his durability moving forward.
With Murphy sidelined to begin 2026, the Braves may lean more on reigning National League Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin, whose performance in 2025 positioned him as a legitimate option to start every day behind the plate rather than just a platoon bat.
Baldwin hit .274 with a .341 on-base percentage and an .810 OPS, adding 19 home runs and 80 RBIs across 124 games last year. His emergence could ease pressure on the front office to explore trades, though Murphy’s eventual return will be critical to Atlanta’s hopes of contending.
The Braves enter spring training with optimism but also uncertainty. Murphy’s recovery timeline, combined with ongoing questions about the starting rotation, ensures his situation will remain one of the most closely watched storylines as the new season approaches.