Just when Atlanta Braves fans thought it couldn’t get worse, it did. On a day already filled with roster reshuffling, Atlanta got hammered with yet another gut punch: catcher Sean Murphy is headed to the 10-day IL with a torn labrum in his right hip. And while the designation is “10-day,” let’s be real — Murphy’s 2025 season is all but over.
According to reports, this kind of injury — a torn labrum in the hip — typically requires surgery, and that means a 6-to-8 month recovery window. Translation: Murphy’s offseason is toast, and the Braves lose one of their top defensive anchors for the remainder of the stretch run. Even more painful? This is a guy who already started the season slowly due to injury. Now he’ll likely start next season behind schedule again.
Braves’ Sean Murphy at the Plate in 2025
Murphy’s 2025 numbers won’t blow anyone away at the plate: a .199/.300/.409 slash line, .309 wOBA, and a 96 wRC+. But dig into his defensive metrics, and the loss starts to sting even more. He ranked in the 94th percentile in Blocks Above Average, 89th in Caught Stealing Above Average, and 80th in Framing — a defensive wizard behind the plate, no question. That Fielding Run Value of 8? Good for the 90th percentile across Major League Baseball.
In short, the bat was cold, but the glove was elite. And with the Braves’ pitching staff already looking shaky, losing a catcher who can steal strikes and control the running game is no small blow.
Enter Sandy León. The veteran backstop has logged just two games and one plate appearance this season, but now he’s getting the call-up — and probably more playing time than anyone expected. That likely pushes promising youngster Drake Baldwin into a larger role as well, whether the club is ready or not.
To add to the chaos, Dane Dunning is headed back to the bullpen after rookie Hayden Harris’ MLB debut was cut short. The shuffling continues, but none of it addresses the glaring question looming over the Braves’ season: Is there enough left to salvage?
