Professional sports can be a cruel world. Just a day after Jonah Heim delivered his best performance as a member of the Braves — knocking in five runs in the club’s 11-6 win over the Rockies — he’s been designated for assignment to make room for Sean Murphy.

The #Braves today reinstated C Sean Murphy from the injured list after returning him from his rehabilitation assignment yesterday. The club designated C Jonah Heim for assignment.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 4, 2026

Sean Murphy is back in the lineup behind the plate, catching JR Ritchie, who will be making his third MLB start in his hometown of Seattle.

An All-Star in 2023, Murphy has been searching for that same level of consistency ever since. He’s hit below the Mendoza Line in each of the last two seasons and has appeared in just 166 games over that span. His defense still provides plenty of value, but the Braves didn’t hand him a six-year extension to be a glove-first backup who offers little at the plate.

The hope is that this extended time off allows him to reset. Murphy hasn’t appeared in a major-league game since undergoing hip surgery last September — an issue that had reportedly been lingering for quite some time.

As for Jonah Heim, the Braves would love for him to slip through waivers and remain in the organization, but there’s a strong chance another team takes a flier on a veteran catcher with a proven track record.

There was likely a brief window where Atlanta considered carrying three catchers, but with injuries beginning to pile up in the outfield, that quickly became a luxury they could no longer afford.

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(Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)