DENVER – Sean Murphy’s return from the injured list Monday led the Braves to designate Jonah Heim for assignment one day after he enjoyed a two-hit, five-RBI game at Coors Field. Heim was ultimately traded to the Athletics for cash considerations on Monday night.
Murphy has been sidelined since undergoing right hip surgery in September. He and Drake Baldwin will share the catching duties, with Baldwin likely to be used as the designated hitter when he’s not behind the plate. Murphy was in the lineup at catcher for Monday's game against the Mariners, with Baldwin the DH.
“It’s good to have Murph back, he’s been a big part of this the past few years,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said.
Murphy earned his only career All-Star selection when he hit .306 with a .999 OPS during the first half of the 2023 season for Atlanta. But the 31-year-old catcher hit .189 with a .657 OPS over the 207 games that followed before he was shut down with a torn labrum in his right hip last year.
How much did the injury limit him?
“It didn’t really feel bad until the end [when I was shut down],” Murphy said. “But I’m definitely stronger than I was at the end.”
Weiss is among those who know Murphy’s ailment likely limited him more than he realized.
“It’s hard to think of a guy that has played well injured in this league over the course of my time,” Weiss said.
Heim hit .231 with a .721 OPS for the Braves. His only home run came in Sunday’s win over the Rockies.
Had Michael Harris II not currently been limited defensively, the Braves might have opted to continue carrying Heim until Ha-Seong Kim returns from his rehab assignment later this month.
Harris has been limited to DH and pinch-hit duties while he deals with a bothersome left quad muscle.
With Harris limited, the Braves would have taken a big gamble by parting ways with Kyle Farmer to create a roster spot for Murphy.
“There was a conversation about carrying three catchers because [Heim] performed so well for us,” Weiss said. “But one of our strengths this year has been the athleticism and versatility of our bench. If we had carried three catchers, that pretty much goes away.”