The Atlanta Braves’ transaction log has been especially active over the past week. While the club welcomed back key contributors such as Ha-Seong Kim and Raisel Iglesias, it also saw the departures of Sean Murphy and Eli White.
This is nothing new for Alex Anthopoulos, and it is part of the reason he goes to great lengths throughout the season to preserve as much organizational depth as possible. As the club replenished its Major League roster Tuesday afternoon, manager Walt Weiss also provided several key updates regarding some of Atlanta’s stars currently on the injured list.
Here's a closer look at what happened to Murphy on Sunday pic.twitter.com/v703D1Wjmm
— Chad Bishop (@MrChadBishop) May 12, 2026
Walt Weiss gives out numerous injury updates on key Braves players
Sean Murphy
You’d be hard-pressed to find a player on the Braves who has endured worse injury luck in recent years than catcher Sean Murphy. Following offseason hip surgery, Murphy did not make his season debut until just over a week ago.
Unfortunately for Murphy, his return proved to be short-lived, as a fractured finger has landed him back on the injured list once again. Weiss told reporters Tuesday that Murphy is expected to miss at least eight weeks while the fracture heals properly. After that, he will still need time to regain form during a rehab assignment, making a post-All-Star break return to Atlanta the earliest realistic timetable.
Ronald Acuña Jr.
The Braves have continued to push forward despite being without their leadoff hitter for the past couple of weeks. Superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. has reportedly remained in good spirits as he continues light running and workouts while recovering from a Grade 1 hamstring strain.
The Braves’ star right fielder is eligible to return from the injured list on Wednesday, but as expected, Atlanta plans to take a cautious approach with its franchise cornerstone. According to Braves reporter Grant McAuley, the 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. still has a few benchmarks to clear before he is activated from the injured list.
Given how sensitive hamstring injuries can be, the Braves are expected to wait until Acuña Jr. is completely past any lower-body discomfort before activating him. Fortunately for Atlanta, its cushion in the NL East gives the club the flexibility to take a cautious approach and ensure both Acuña Jr. and the organization are fully confident in the health of his hamstring before his return.
Spencer Schwellenbach
Perhaps the most surprising update involved right-handed pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach, who is expected to begin throwing again soon. As many will recall, Schwellenbach was among several talented Braves pitchers bitten by the injury bug during spring training.
It has been quite some time since Schwellenbach last took the mound for the Braves, but this report from AJC reporter Chad Bishop suggests the club could see the return of one of baseball’s most exciting young pitchers before the end of the season.
Of course, Schwellenbach will still need to progress to throwing bullpen sessions and eventually make a series of rehab starts without any setbacks before he is deemed ready to return to Atlanta. Still, this marks an important first step in the right direction, and the Braves will hope Schwellenbach continues to make steady progress while checking off key benchmarks along the way.
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