Braves: Sean Murphy to miss 4-6 weeks with injury, clears path for Drake Baldwin

Leave a Comment / Braves / By /
Austin Riley Sean Murphy Braves

The injury bug ran rampant throughout the Braves clubhouse last season. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen so many key contributors miss significant time in my life, yet somehow Atlanta still rattled off 89 wins and snuck into the playoffs on the final day. That’s what should have fans confident about this year’s team despite the Braves’ relatively quiet offseason. As long as they stay healthy, 100 wins should be in their future. Unfortunately, it appears as if the injury bug stayed around through the winter, with Sean Murphy expected to miss 4-6 weeks after suffering a cracked rib.

If you remember, Sean Murphy actually kicked off the Braves injury party a year ago, tearing his oblique on Opening Day and missing the first couple of months of the season. However, even when he returned, he was a shell of himself, posting career-worst offensive numbers across the board and failing to hit above the Mendoza Line.

The Braves were hoping a full and healthy offseason would lead to a considerable bounce-back campaign from Sean Murphy, and they bet on it by opting to let Travis d’Arnaud walk in free agency. This is not the way they hoped to start the season behind the plate, but from a glass half-full perspective, it does open the door for top prospect Drake Baldwin to make his MLB debut.

Ever since Baldwin was promoted to AAA Gwinnett, he hasn’t stopped raking. In 72 games for the Stripers last season, he hit nearly .300 with 12 homers, 55 RBIs, and an .891 OPS. Baldwin then recorded a .942 OPS in 13 games in the Arizona Fall League and now has an .883 OPS through six games this spring. The 23-year-old former third-round pick out of Missouri State is an elite offensive prospect, especially for a catcher, and it looks like he may get his shot in Atlanta much sooner than anticipated.

—

Photographer: Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire

Scroll to Top
%d bloggers like this: