Braves get bit by injury bug again with All-Star leaving game early
Braves catcher Sean Murphy is surely heading to his first All-Star Game but fans have to be concerned after he left Saturday’s game early with an injury.
Injuries are part of life for any MLB club, but they’ve been a little too involved with the Atlanta Braves this season for any fan’s liking. And now another star has been added to a list that’s already seen Max Fried, Michael Harris II, Kyle Wright and several others miss time this season.
Early in Saturday’s matinee against the Rockies, catcher Sean Murphy roped a ball in the bottom of the third inning to the wall. But rather than legging out what looked to be a pretty comfortable double for the offseason acquisition, he pulled up lame at first base.
The trainers and Braves manager Brian Snitker then came out to check on him. He ultimately exited the game with veteran Travis d’Arnaud taking his place on the base paths and then behind the dish when the inning turned.
Looked like Sean Murphy might have tweaked his hammy as he rounded first base. He walked off the field under his own power. Will let you know when an update is available. pic.twitter.com/6PEaSvzW9L
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) June 17, 2023
Braves: Sean Murphy injury forces catcher to exit early vs. Rockies
Update, 5:35 p.m. ET: The Braves announced that Murphy left the game with “left hamstring tightness”.
The Braves say Sean Murphy exited today's game with right hamstring tightness.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) June 17, 2023
Original Post: As Braves insider Mark Bowman noted above, it appears to be something akin to a hamstring injury for Murphy, though there hasn’t yet been official word as to what caused his early exit from Truist Park on Saturday.
In any case, Atlanta is fortunate to have one of the better catchers in the National League, d’Arnaud, on the roster to come in to replace Murphy. At the same time, though, losing the first-year Brave for any extended period of time would be a tough scene.
Murphy has been a revelation on a fast track for his first-ever All-Star Game appearance this season after coming over in the three-team trade from the A’s this offseason. Coming into Saturday’s game, he ranked 10th in baseball with a .919 OPS while raking 12 home runs and notching 42 RBI on the season.
Losing Murphy would be a big blow, even with d’Arnaud able to fill in, for the Braves as the club has been rolling atop the NL East.
We’ll keep you up to date with any new information regarding the status of Sean Murphy moving forward.
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