Braves Catcher Sidelined for Season with Hip Injury

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves placed former All-Star catcher Sean Murphy on the 10-day injured list Monday with a right hip labral tear, ending his 2025 season, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Consequently, the Braves selected catcher Sandy León’s contract from Triple-A Gwinnett to fill the roster spot. Moreover, David O’Brien of The Athletic noted that Murphy faces surgery with a four-month recovery, sidelining the 30-year-old veteran until at least spring training in 2026. Murphy will have surgery on Thursday. 

Before the All-Star break, Murphy excelled with a 123 wRC+ over 225 plate appearances, showcasing his power and discipline. However, his post-break performance dropped sharply to a 41 wRC+ in 112 plate appearances. Injuries, including a rib fracture and oblique strain, hampered his consistency. As a result, Murphy finished 2025 with a .199 batting average, 16 home runs, and a .709 OPS across 94 games, a disappointing follow-up to his 2023 All-Star campaign. A new report from Grand McAuley of 929 The Game states Murphy has dealt with a hip issue for the last three seasons, but did not inform the club until this week when the pain became unbearable. He’d only recently started seeking treatment. 

Braves became more concerned with his recent play and even noticed some swing issues in his final game. Murphy preferred to finish the season, but given the need for surgery once it was checked out, the decision to have the surgery was made. The rehab process is 4 months.

— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) September 8, 2025

Meanwhile, the Braves relied on a catching tandem of Murphy and rookie Drake Baldwin, which proved effective early in 2025. Baldwin, Atlanta’s top catching prospect per MLB Pipeline, posted a .276/.349/.447 slash line over 333 at-bats. Their complementary skills—Murphy’s elite game-calling and Baldwin’s emerging offense—ensured defensive stability. For instance, Baldwin’s 61.9% hard-hit rate and improved framing metrics bolstered his case as a reliable starter, positioning him to take over primary catching duties for the season’s final weeks. 

Drake Baldwin hits a two-run home run (15) in the ninth inning as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.#BravesCountry
pic.twitter.com/XEObI3RJ0n

— Rockford Maverick (@RockfordMav) September 1, 2025

Main Photo Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images