When the Atlanta Braves swung a three-team, nine-player deal to acquire catcher Sean Murphy from the Oakland Athletics, they thought they were getting a power-hitting backstop with elite defense. During the first half of his first season with Atlanta, it looked like they were getting just that, as he rocked a .999 OPS to the All-Star Game.
Unfortunately, since then, Murphy's bat has been average at best. Thanks to multiple injuries, Murphy has failed to established himself as the everyday catcher since 2023. However, even with the emergence of Drake Baldwin and a hip surgery that will keep Murphy out until May, 2026 could still prove to be a huge year for the 31-year-old.
2026 could be Sean Murphy's make-or-break season with the Braves
Since the 2023 All-Star break, there have been 32 catchers in the majors to accumulate at least 700 plate appearances. Of the 32 catchers, Murphy has the sixth-worst wRC+, slashing .189/.296/.361. The defense that was so well-regarded with Oakland has carried over, but even with the defensive boost, Murphy ranks 21st in fWAR during this span. Even worse, the catcher the Braves traded to acquire Murphy, William Contreras, has been one of the best catchers in the game.
Of course, the backstop has struggled to stay healthy in this time as well. In 2024, he injured his oblique during the first game of the season, missing nearly two full months. When he returned, he had the worst season of his career offensively and defensively.
In 2025, he missed the first nine games of the season with a fractured rib, which allowed Baldwin to make the Opening Day roster and eventually NL Rookie of the Year. Although he had a hot start, slugging seven homers in April, he'd only manage nine more bombs the rest of the season, eventually going on the IL with a hip injury,
The hip injury was particularly shocking to Braves fans, as it was revealed that the catcher had a hip tear that had bothered him for the previous three seasons, requiring surgery that would need at least four months to heal. On Wednesday, Mark Bowman revealed that the club expects him to miss the first month of the season.
Despite the injury, the time off might be good for both Murphy and the Braves. In his absence, Atlanta can lean on Baldwin, who had no issues proving himself last season. Murphy on the otherhand, can take his time to heal and ensure he can return stronger.
If the hip tear is indeed what has handicapped the seven-year veteran the past few seasons, then it supercharges a Braves team that has the flexibility to fit both him and Baldwin in the same lineup, thanks to a vacancy at the DH spot.
However, if Murphy's bat can't return to what it was prior to joining the Braves in 2026, the extension that he signed immediately after the trade, as well as the trade itself, will go down as a disaster for the club.