Sean Murphy had a terrible year in 2024.
He got an oblique injury on Opening Day and was out until the end of May. He returned at the same time that Ronald Acuna Jr. was placed on the injured list with a season-ending knee injury.
Murph, on the other hand, has never been able to regain his 2023 form since his injury. That has been the story for the majority of the 2024 Atlanta Braves roster. Sean has performed admirably in the kitchen, as one would anticipate. He is a terrific defender.
Unfortunately, his offense has much to be desired. Injury can contribute to players’ inability to re-establish a rhythm quickly, but Atlanta’s backstop has had little success. Travis d’Arnaud has been utilized more frequently since he has been more consistent offensively, but don’t look at his stats after the beginning of August. Trust me, it’s tough.
Murphy is batting.202 this season, with nine home runs and 23 RBI in 67 games. He hit.211 in the first half and.193 in the second half. However, his average in September has been.097 after nine games played. Sean has a solid walk rate, but his strikeout percentage is greater than it should be, which is the most of his problem this season.
His underperformance might open the door for one of Atlanta’s best prospects to play next season. The Braves are not going to cut relations with Sean Murphy. That would be foolish. He still has worth, but his problems, combined with Drake Baldwin’s offensive outburst in 2024, may force them to platoon Murphy alongside the promising prospect.
This also implies that the Braves will not exercise Travis d’Arnaud’s club option for next season. If they decide to bring TDA back, platooning Murphy and Baldwin wouldn’t make much sense. For the sake of argument, let us say Travis does not return next season.
Drake Baldwin, Atlanta’s fifth-ranked prospect, has piqued people’s interest with his performance in 120 games (52 in Double-A and 68 in Triple-A). However, his season did not begin as well, with a.244 average with Double-A Mississippi, four home runs, and 33 RBIs. When Baldwin was promoted to Triple-A Gwinnett, things changed instantly.
Baldwin’s line is.295/.406/.484, with an OPS of.809. He has 76 hits, including 11 doubles, 12 home runs, 54 RBI, 50 walks, and 50 strikeouts.
He might provide the Braves a much-needed offensive boost next season. Baldwin’s pitch recognition remains strong, as seen by his even walk-to-strikeout ratio. He has good arm strength and can catch the ball proficiently behind the plate.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to give Baldwin a chance in 2025 as a backup to Murphy if he is unable to straighten things out and get totally healthy. Sean is slated to start making $15 million next season and is signed until 2028. So, why not give Drake Baldwin a chance to prove he’s ready to move up to the MLB level?