Braves’ All-Star catcher gradually works his way back to the diamond

admin | April 17, 2024 | Other Clubs | No Comments

Atlanta’s star catcher is slowly starting to work towards returning to action.

Losing a star player is never easy, especially when it occurs two days into the season. However, this is exactly what happened when the Atlanta Braves discovered they would be without Sean Murphy after only two games. The squad has subsequently lost Spencer Strider for the season, as well as Ozzie Albies, who has a fractured big toe and is on the 10-day injured list.

The All-Star catcher had a strained left oblique, putting him on the 10-day injured list. Fortunately, the Braves have a talented dual catching core, and Travis d’Arnaud handled the daily chores without trouble. Chadwick Tromp has been fantastic on days when TDA is also off.

Atlanta will be cautious about rushing him back to the field, but it appears he is gradually beginning to get the process started, as he engaged in some light throwing work on the field prior to Game 1 of the Braves series in Houston.

David O’Brien, a Braves insider, revealed that Murphy is not running yet. However, the catcher confirmed that he is “fast walking” and uses the “StairMaster.” “Making progress.” It is reassuring to see that he can at least complete those exercises without difficulty, but there is no need to push things.

Update on Sean Murphy⤵️ pic.twitter.com/2tNcjdeRLp

— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) April 15, 2024

The club cherishes Murphy’s advice during daily strategy sessions, which is why he was taken on the road trip rather than staying at home and doing his rehab. Murphy speaks with d’Arnaud and catching coach Sal Fasano before each game to strategize how they would manage the opposition that day.

So, while Murphy’s bat and glove are extremely valuable, the Braves evidently appreciate his baseball IQ just as much. His perspective on opposing batters is vital and benefits the squad at the end of the day. The Braves are extremely fortunate to have a player like that on their side.

While this is excellent news, it appears that he will not return until sometime in May. Any usual baseball actions right now (hitting, throwing, blocking the plate) would put a lot of strain on the oblique, so the team wants it to heal completely before putting him back on the field.

Murphy knows this, explaining, “That’s why it takes so long to recover, because that muscle can never, like, stop. “You need it every time you breathe.” Fans should rest comfortable knowing Sean will do everything he can to be completely healthy before returning to action. It would be pointless for Atlanta to regain his services only to lose him once more. He is critical to this team’s pursuit of the World Series in 2024.

Whenever the Braves provide a clear timetable for return, we will pass that news along to you.