When Sean Murphy landed on the injured list, many Braves fans were quick to call for his departure in favor of promising rookie Drake Baldwin — a reaction I always thought was over the top.
Murphy was one of the league’s top catchers in 2023 but began 2024 on the shelf with an oblique injury. After returning, he never quite found his rhythm, largely due to inconsistent playing time caused by the team’s struggling offense and Travis d’Arnaud’s hot bat.
Following a career-best year in 2023, Murphy’s 2024 has been his toughest season yet. That dip in production, combined with Baldwin’s electric start, led to growing calls among fans to move on from the veteran.
Those voices got louder as Baldwin shined in Murphy’s absence. Over his first 31 games, the rookie slashed an impressive .355/.400/.559, belting five home runs and four doubles for a .959 OPS.
Through it all, I stood by Murphy — not because Baldwin lacks talent, but because Murphy is an exceptional catcher, and it was far too soon to make such a major call. I wasn’t opposed to trading one eventually, but a 30-game sample isn’t enough to justify that kind of move.
And sure enough, Baldwin has hit the first rough patch of his young career. Over the past 14 games, he’s posted a .522 OPS, and his average has dropped to nearly 50 points below the Mendoza Line.
That said, there’s no reason to panic about Baldwin. He’s still putting together solid at-bats, and every player — even Sean Murphy — goes through slumps. Murphy himself is hitting just .194 with a .638 OPS over his last 10 games.
The big-picture message here is simple: baseball is a brutal game, and rookies like Baldwin don’t have the same experience or track record as a veteran like Murphy. Having two strong catchers is a luxury, especially when slumps are inevitable. Unfortunately, both are in one now — but that won’t last forever.
Eventually, the Braves may face a tough decision between Baldwin and Murphy to address other roster needs. But it’s not a choice that should be rushed. Having two high-end catchers is a good problem to have, and while Baldwin could well become a star, he still has plenty to prove.