When Sean Murphy got hurt during spring training, it forced the Atlanta Braves to make a choice. Either they could go with a short term fix with a random backup catcher to cover for him while he was out or they could give top prospect Drake Baldwin a chance.
Given that Baldwin had been one of the highlights of camp to that point and didn't have a ton left to prove in Triple-A, Atlanta decided to give him a shot. Unfortunately, Baldwin has struggled at the plate to this (very early) point of his big league career thanks, in part, to some pretty rotten batted ball luck.
Now, it looks like reinforcements are beginning to arrive as Murphy is returning from the IL, but Drake Baldwin will stick around to help out for now.
The #Braves today returned C Sean Murphy from his rehabilitation assignment and reinstated him from the injured list, and designated C Chadwick Tromp for assignment.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 6, 2025
Sean Murphy's return to the Braves from the injured list could determine team's strategy going forward
Unless Baldwin had gone absolutely wild, there was little to no chance that Atlanta was going to not bring Murphy back and give him a lot of the work behind the plate. Not only was Murphy's rib injury considered minor and wouldn't impact his availability for long, but the Braves are committed to him financially and were always going to try and get something in return for that.
The question now becomes how Murphy and Baldwin factor into Atlanta's plans long-term. Baldwin's first stint in the big leagues has not been great offensively, but he is still very highly regarded as a catching prospect and he has clearly done enough to convince the Braves to keep him around. Murphy is also coming off what can generously be described as a down 1.5 seasons and if he struggles for the 2025 season, his future with the team will very much be in question.
In this case, the situation should take care of itself. No one will complain if both players play well and the Braves can either field one of the best catching tandems in baseball or trade whichever player is deemed to be the least necessary. If one or the other plays well, that answers a lot of questions in the long-term.
As for what happens if neither Murphy or Baldwin play well, well...it is best not to think about that right now. There has been enough bad news for the Braves to start the season.