Just eight days after being activated off the injured list, Braves catcher Sean Murphy finds himself back on the shelf.
The Braves placed Murphy on the 10-day injured list, backdated to May 11, with a fractured left middle finger. The 31-year-old suffered the injury in Sunday’s 7-2 Braves win over the Dodgers when he was hit on the glove on a swing by shortstop Hyeseong Kim, resulting in a catcher’s interference. Murphy was seen walking with a trainer to a medical room postgame at Dodger Stadium. Murphy began the season on the injured list while completing his rehab from surgery to repair a labral tear in his right hip and was activated on May 4.
With Murphy going back on the injured list, the Braves had to make another move to enhance their catching depth behind starter Drake Baldwin. Atlanta traded away backup catcher Jonah Heim last week to the A’s after designating him for assignment upon Murphy’s return. In need of another backup catcher, the Braves signed veteran Sandy León to a major-league deal. This is the 37-year-old’s second stint with the Braves, as he began the season with Triple-A Gwinnett but was granted his release on April 22 to pursue an opportunity in the Mexican League with the Saraperos de Saltillo. He did not appear for Saltillo before re-signing with Atlanta.
Additionally, outfielder José Azócar returns to Atlanta from Gwinnett, with infielder Jim Jarvis getting optioned. Azócar had been designated for assignment by the Braves last week, but he cleared waivers and returned to the Braves on a minor-league deal before being added to the major-league roster on Tuesday.
