Most of the early-season attention, as far as Braves prospects go, has understandably centered around Didier Fuentes and JR Ritchie. Both have already gotten a taste of the majors, and both look like they could play meaningful roles as the season unfolds.

But they’re not the only names worth tracking. The Braves have a few other high-end prospects who could factor into the picture sooner rather than later — including Owen Murphy, who has just earned a promotion to Triple-A Gwinnett.

Owen Murphy 🤝 Triple-A Debut pic.twitter.com/hUZG7C1LC7

— Columbus Clingstones (@GoClingstones) April 28, 2026

A first-round pick for the Braves alongside JR Ritchie back in 2022, Owen Murphy really started to turn heads during the 2024 season. Over his first seven starts with High-A Rome, he posted a ridiculous 1.54 ERA while striking out 13.2 batters per nine innings.

Unfortunately, Tommy John surgery cut that breakout short, and he didn’t return until late last year. However, the results were just as impressive — six starts for Rome, a 1.32 ERA, and more signs that Murphy could one day be a staple of Atlanta’s rotation.

From a pure numbers standpoint, 2026 hasn’t gotten off to nearly the same start. In his first taste of Double-A ball with Columbus, Murphy has made five starts and owns a 6.10 ERA while walking close to eight batters per nine innings. That’s obviously not a sustainable formula for success at any level.

That said, control hasn’t been a long-term concern. He’s averaged just 3.4 walks per nine over his professional career, and this promotion suggests the Braves aren’t overly worried about the early-season numbers.

Murphy currently sits as the Braves’ sixth-ranked prospect, according to MLB.com. 

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)