Braves share an update on Sean Murphy

The Atlanta Braves are off to a sizzling 7-3 start, sitting securely in first place to begin the season, but it has come at an awful cost.

Spencer Strider is presently on a 15-day IL. The Braves are currently calling it a UCL sprain, but all signs point to Tommy John surgery for one of baseball’s top arms.

Sean Murphy is also on the injured list after suffering an injury on Opening Day. It’s an oblique, so while the Braves anticipate him to return this season, they are complex ailments that sometimes take a long time to recover.

The Braves updated Murphy’s status earlier today. He’s currently walking on a treadmill.

#Braves catcher Sean Murphy (oblique, IL) has begun walking on the treadmill, Snitker said. That’s a long way from sprinting and hitting, but it’s progress.

— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) April 10, 2024

That demonstrates how long oblique injuries can linger. He’s been out for almost two weeks and has just started walking.

The catcher position is quite physically demanding. Sean Murphy will need to be in top form before the Braves consider bringing him back. In the next weeks, he hopes to proceed to on-field activities before working behind the plate and taking batting practice, but it will be a while before he returns to action, especially if the Braves opt to give him some rehab starts in the minors.