When Sean Murphy arrived in the major leagues with the Oakland Athletics, Matt Olson was already there. Few have enjoyed a better view of Murphy’s career progression than Olson, who knows first-hand what the Braves catcher brings both defensively behind the plate and offensively at the plate.
“When he’s got that right-center stroke down, is normally when you see stuff kind of start taking off for him,” Olson said. “… He’s as powerful as it gets.”
Olson was pointing to Murphy’s 407-foot solo homer to the Braves bullpen in right-center field at Truist Park last Sunday — yet another example of what has been a well-timed hot streak.
Since Aug. 25, when he began playing more consistently, Murphy has gone 9-for-20 with three home runs and an OPS of 1.850. It comes as the Braves navigate a critical stretch, continuing with Friday’s game against the Phillies.
Murphy’s bat staying hot would go a long way toward helping the Braves fend off the Phillies, who enter this four-game series at Citizens Bank Park trailing Atlanta by four games. The clubs will play seven times in the next 10 days.
When asked about the recent stretch, Murphy defaulted to his typical low-key style.
“You only got more games coming,” Murphy said, “so it’s always a work in progress.”
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But at least for now, the work can progress. That hasn’t always been the case this season. Two stints on the injured list have cost him 110 games this year — 35 games after missing all of spring training recovering from hip surgery, and then 72 games as he recovered from a fractured middle finger.
When he’s been on the field, the 31-year-old is hitting .242 with three home runs and eight RBIs over 18 games. His defense is also an asset, which isn’t surprising considering his work last season. In 94 games in 2025, Murphy’s ranked in the 94th percentile with eight blocks above average and in the 89th percentile with four caught stealing above average.
He has also been essential to the Braves’ pitch planning — an everyday luxury that was not available when both Murphy and Drake Baldwin went on the injured list mid-summer. The Braves went through five catchers during Murphy’s second stint on the IL. It wasn’t ideal for game planning or offensive production, as those five catchers combined to go 18-for-95.
Now, the Braves are benefiting from a consistent catcher who has worked with most of the pitchers on staff. Murphy has taken his spot at the front of the Braves’ pitch planning, with both pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and catching coach Dustin Garneau, while also helping Baldwin with his planning.
He’s also established an easy in-game rapport with Tyler Mahle, whose 1.48 ERA is third-best since the Braves acquired him at the Aug. 3 trade deadline. All of Mahle’s games with Atlanta have been caught by Murphy.
“He’s been in the league for a while, and that seems to also help me and anybody out,” Mahle said. “But when a guy has seen all these hitters and knows pitch calling — it’s super helpful.”
Perhaps just as important, Murphy’s return and production give manager Walt Weiss options. It’s possible the best version of the Braves lineup during this crucial stretch features both Baldwin and Murphy.
On days when Murphy catches, the Braves still use Baldwin at designated hitter. As a DH this season, he’s hitting .294 with 10 homers, compared to .264 with 12 homers while behind the plate.
The split duties allow Baldwin to rest his body more, an important luxury after being sidelined for nearly a month with a strained right oblique. It’s an option only because Murphy has come back — and been productive.
“It’s a great tandem,” Weiss said. “That’s how it was designed, before Murphy got hurt. Drake’s bat is so important to our lineup that it’s huge. Murphy can take down a lot of the innings back there and keep Drake fresh and keep that bat alive.”