Kofi Inkoom
Sean Murphy, the Braves’ catcher, has been gradually getting back into the swing of things after an oblique injury benched him in March, during the season opener.
Justin Toscano, reporting for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, notes Murphy has been upping his game behind the plate, participating in bullpen sessions, and now, he’s even taking swings, starting with tee practice during the recent road trip to Seattle.
Murphy’s return would be a big lift for Atlanta, given his status as one of baseball’s top catchers lately. Meanwhile, Travis d’Arnaud has been holding down the fort admirably, boasting an impressive .269/.341/.564 slash line and five homers in just 88 plate appearances this season.
As for Murphy’s return timeline, the Braves haven’t confirmed if he’ll need some time in the minors before rejoining the team. Typically, Atlanta hitters skip minor league rehab unless they’ve been out for a while or didn’t get a full prep during spring training.
Remember Ozzie Albies’ case in 2022? After missing nearly three months due to foot surgery, he did a stint with AAA Gwinnett, going 9-27 with a homer and a triple in seven games before coming back to the Braves.
Unfortunately, he broke his pinky finger in his second game back, ending his season and postseason run prematurely.