Sean Murphy Out for the Year; How Should the Braves Handle Their ROTY Candidate Going Forward?
The Braves’ 2025 season has effectively over since the all-star break, with the team posting a disappointing 22-26 record since then. A combination of underperforming players and injuries has pushed Atlanta out of playoff contention. However, one silver lining has emerged: the Rookie of the Year campaign of catcher Drake Baldwin. With starting catcher Sean Murphy now ruled out for the remainder of the season with a right hip labral tear, the Braves have to make a decision on how much more playing time Baldwin should receive to bolster his ROTY case. Murphy’s absence creates an opportunity for Baldwin to have more playing time down the stretch, but would that bolster an already strong case or risk it all?
Baldwin, a left-handed catcher, has been in a platoon role, splitting time behind the plate with Murphy and occasionally serving as designated hitter alongside right-handed slugger Marcell Ozuna. The recent addition of right-handed-hitting catcher Sandy León appears to signal that the platoon could continue. Yet, the decision to limit Baldwin’s exposure hasn’t stemmed from his performance against right-handed pitching. In fact, he’s hitting .323/.389/.523 against lefties and a respectable .265/.339/.429 against righties.
The rookie catcher is currently in a tight race with Cubs pitcher Cade Horton. While Baldwin holds a 2.4 WAR to Horton’s 1.4, ESPN BET currently lists Horton as the favorite with -115 odds to win it and Baldwin +140. Murphy’s injury presents a clear opportunity for Baldwin to make a late-season push without concerns over sharing time with veterans like Murphy and Ozuna. The Braves could deploy Baldwin in two out of every three games as the catcher and use him as a designated hitter in the third, allowing him to stay in the lineup consistently down the stretch. If Baldwin maintains his current pace with the added playing time, he could sway voters who currently lean toward Horton. With the postseason out of the picture for the Braves, making the best case for Baldwin to win the ROTY should be the top priority since it will reward them with a valuable compensation pick in next year's draft. A pick that could help a poor Braves farm system that was previously ranked 28th in the MLB by analysts.
