For the Atlanta Braves, the satisfaction of pulling away to a lopsided Opening Day street win over the Philadelphia Phillies was tempered by information that catcher Sean Murphy will go on the 10-day disabled record with a left indirect pressure.
Murphy was injured when he swung and foul-tipped a pitch within the seventh inning of the Braves’ 9-3 win Friday. The 2023 All-Star reached for his left aspect instantly and left the sector with a group coach moments later.
Veteran Travis d’Arnaud will deal with the majority of the catching duties till Murphy returns, which may very well be as quickly as 10 days however usually is considerably longer for one of these damage. Chadwick Tromp will likely be recalled from Triple A to again up d’Arnaud.
“I hate it for Murph,” stated Braves supervisor Brian Snitker, who added that they wouldn’t know the severity of the damage till Murphy has imaging exams on Saturday. “He had such a very nice finish to his spring, was feeling good, and it’s simply a kind of freak issues that occur in baseball. I go searching and thank God we’ve obtained a man of Travis’s caliber to step in now.”
D’Arnaud, 35, was a first-time All-Star in 2022 with the Braves, earlier than transferring to a lesser function final season after Atlanta traded for Murphy from the Oakland Athletics. However d’Arnaud nonetheless made 59 begins at catcher final season.
When D’Arnaud sustained his fourth profession concussion in April 2023, whereas he was on the IL Murphy caught 16 video games in a 19-game stretch, with Tromp catching the opposite three. Now, it’ll be d’Arnaud pulling heavy obligation whereas Murphy is on the IL.
But it surely’s doubtless Tromp will catch at the very least a number of extra video games whereas Murphy is sidelined than he did whereas the older d’Arnaud was out final season. D’Arnaud caught 5 consecutive video games final June when Murphy was coping with a sore hamstring.
The Braves have a luxurious that few different groups have with two such achieved veteran catchers.
“It’s nice, you don’t care who’s catching since you’ve obtained two of the perfect within the recreation it doesn’t matter what,” stated Braves Opening Day starter Spencer Strider. “However I actually really feel for Sean. I do know he’s upset. One thing so random, you realize, you simply take a swing. It’s one thing you do on a regular basis, so it’s loopy that it could possibly simply damage you randomly. However he’s going to make it a very good factor, and he’s going to change into higher due to it. And once we get him again, we’ll be excited.”
D’Arnaud stated of dealing with a heavier load for the approaching weeks, “I simply consider the work that Murph put in in spring coaching and within the offseason, and for one thing like that to occur Opening Day, it stinks. I simply really feel dangerous for him. As for me, it’s simply heat up, go play, calm down, and attempt to win a ball recreation. Attempt to maintain it easy as that.”
Snitker stated, “When Travis went down final yr with a concussion, we had Murph. Like I say, we’re blessed to have two #1 (catchers) on our membership. I simply say it for Murph, as a result of he’s accomplished the whole lot proper. He’s had a very nice end to his spring and was enthusiastic about getting right here. It’s simply considered one of them issues that occurs.”
(Prime picture of Braves catcher Sean Murphy: Brett Davis / USA At this time)