Braves return Sean Murphy from injured list, call up outfielder to bench

The Atlanta Braves are getting some roster regulars back.

They also made some interesting decisions regarding bench depth.

The team announced this morning that they have officially returned receiver Sean Murphy from his rehab stint at Triple-A Gwinnett and reinstated him from the injured list after missing 49 games. Murphy, who injured his oblique in the season opener against the Philadelphia Phillies, went 5-18 with two homers and a double in four games for Gwinnett last weekend , starting twice as catcher and serving twice more as designated hitter.

To make room on the active roster, the team placed Ronald Acuña Jr. on injured reserve, a move that was entirely expected after Sunday night’s imagery. showed a completely torn ACL that will require surgery and sideline him for the rest of the 2024 calendar.

But there was another move here that, while expected, was a bit surprising.

With Sean Murphy’s activation fully expected, the decision to keep backup catcher Chadwick Tromp on the bench was not. Tromp hit .250 in 19 games behind the dish as the primary backup to starter Travis d’Arnaud, showing solid defense and legitimate doubles power (six of his thirteen hits were doubles), although he also struck out seventeen times to just one walk. and has yet to hit a home run in Atlanta this season. Having a third catcher may seem like a luxury, but it may signal a desire to see whoever doesn’t start between catcher Sean Murphy or Travis d’Arnaud become the primary pinch-hitting option for the Braves, a role shared by outfielders beginners Adam. Duvall and Jarred Kelenic. The duo has combined to cover twenty of Atlanta’s twenty-nine plate appearances this season (although a few of those have been for each other.)

Instead of sending Tromp back to Gwinnett, the team opted to designate newly acquired Joey Wendle for assignment. Signed last Friday after being released by the New York Mets, the veteran infielder was placed on the active roster at the expense of utilityman Luke Williams, who was sent back to Gwinnett in a corresponding move. Wendle, who has experience in all three spots in the field besides first base, has not appeared in a game during his brief tenure with Atlanta and is now a free agent again. The New York Mets still have to pay the majority of his $2 million salary, with Atlanta only paying the prorated minimum for the few days he was on the active roster and whichever new team he signs with, she will be responsible for it.

The choice of replacement outfielder here was also interesting – JP Martinez, acquired via trade from the Texas Rangers this offseason, is set to get his first action of the season in a Braves uniform with the call-up. The 27-year-old Cuban totaled forty-four plate appearances in the majors with Texas last season, batting .225 with one home run and seven runs scored. He hit .265 in Gwinnett over the first 45 games of the season, scoring twenty-five runs and going 14/20 on stolen bases.

It’s likely he’s here more to serve as a 4th outfielder than a platoon or rotation outfielder.

UPDATE: Manager Brian Snitker, speaking to the media ahead of Monday’s game, confirmed both d’Arnaud’s hitting role and that of Martínez on the bench.