The Braves have catching talent on the roster, but what does the future hold?
Many teams around the MLB world have struggled to find a reliable catcher. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves happen to have two on the roster. One is currently recovering from injury, but Sean Murphy is expected to return within the first month or two of the 2026 campaign. Reigning National League Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin will handle duties behind the plate on Opening Day.
So, what does the future hold for the Braves' catcher situation?
Drake Baldwin, Sean Murphy
Baldwin, 24, made a statement with his performance in 2025. He slashed .274/.341/.469 across 124 games played. The rookie catcher added 19 home runs, 18 doubles and 80 RBI. His numbers were respectable for most players and tremendous for a catcher.
Murphy, a 31-year-old, was limited to 94 total games played a season ago. A former All-Star, the backstop has struggled over the past two seasons, hitting below .200 in each campaign. In 2025, Murphy hit just .199/.300/.409.
Giving up on Murphy is risky, though. When healthy, he is still one of the better catchers in baseball. The Braves likely want to see if he can bounce back in 2026. Decline may be the reason for his recent underperformance, but his struggles may be a product of his previous injury concerns.
With all of that being said, one has to imagine that Baldwin is the Braves' catcher of the future. When Murphy returns, Baldwin and Murphy could possibly split time between designated hitter and catcher, or Atlanta could consider trading Murphy. However, that may not happen if Atlanta finds a role that makes sense for him.
It's a good problem to have. As mentioned, there are many ball clubs without a reliable catcher on the roster. Some teams have good defensive backstops, but those players are unreliable from an offensive standpoint.
Braves' Catching Outlook
The Braves have two catchers who can take care of business defensively while also finding success from an offensive standpoint. While Baldwin is an up-and-coming player with a bright future, Murphy is a proven veteran who is hoping to get back on track once he returns from injury.
It will be a situation to monitor in 2026. The team's superstars will receive most of the attention, but Braves fans will surely pay attention to both catchers and their performance moving forward. If the Braves end up rebounding in 2026 following their difficult 2025 campaign, Baldwin and Murphy will likely both play a role in the team's success.