Veteran MLB catcher Sean Murphy is looking at an extended recovery period after suffering a cracked rib.
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker announced Monday that Murphy will be sidelined for the next four to six weeks, meaning he will miss the start of the 2025 MLB season. The injury is a tough blow for the Braves, as Murphy is a key part of their lineup both offensively and defensively.
With Murphy out to begin the season, Atlanta will have to rely more on backup catcher Travis d’Arnaud and potentially explore additional depth options behind the plate.
Sean Murphy sustained the injury during a spring training game on Friday against the Miami Marlins. In the fourth inning of Atlanta’s 7-2 victory, the right-handed catcher was hit by a 94-mph sinker from Miami’s William Kempner. The impact resulted in a cracked rib, sidelining Murphy for the next four to six weeks and forcing him to miss the start of the 2025 MLB season.
Murphy, 30, has spent the past two seasons with the Braves and earned an All-Star selection in 2023. A Gold Glove winner in 2021 with the Oakland Athletics, he struggled offensively last season, hitting just .193 with 10 home runs and 25 RBIs in 72 games while dealing with elbow and oblique injuries.
Rib injuries are notoriously painful, and Murphy will need significant time to recover. With him projected as Atlanta’s starting catcher, the Braves now have a few options to fill the void. Highly regarded 23-year-old prospect Drake Baldwin could get an opportunity, while veterans like Curt Casali (36), Chadwick Tromp (29), and Sandy León (35) are also in the mix.
An injury like this might not have been as big of a concern for the Braves last season, given their catching depth. However, with their other well-known backstop departing in free agency this winter, Atlanta may have to rely on more of a committee approach to cover for Murphy’s absence. The team will likely mix and match between their veteran options and young prospect Drake Baldwin until Murphy is ready to return.
