In 2023, there was a platoon at catching, much like the Atlanta Braves have done recently. Both Travis d’Arnaud and Sean Murphy divided up such responsibilities. Murphy played in 108 games, compared to d’Arnaud’s 74 appearances.
Before the season started, Murphy was acquired from the Oakland Athletics, and he had the best possible debut for a new team.
Murphy is predicted to receive the most of playing time behind the dish in 2024, so things will probably be similar. Murphy played in 108 games last season and finished with a.251 batting average, 21 home runs, and 68 RBI, earning him a spot in his first All-Star Game. In the first part of the season, he appeared to be a strong MVP candidate, but in the second half, he somewhat declined.
Based on forecasts from ZiPS FanGraphs, Sean Murphy should bat.254 with 22 home runs and 72 RBI. These estimates closely resemble his real 2023 stat line.
Although it is reasonable to anticipate this from Murphy, it is not implausible for him to surpass these estimates. Murphy played his first four MLB seasons with the Oakland A’s before joining the Braves in 2023, as was previously indicated.
Murphy adjusted to life on the East Coast quite well, albeit perhaps it took some getting used to before Atlanta truly felt like home. He will be prepared for action come season now that he is used to the Braves organisation and expectations.
Sean Murphy’s current roster is another factor that could cause him to surpass his expectations. Being in the middle or bottom third of the order with excellent hitters ahead of and behind him, Murphy will see pitches to hit. Murphy will always have some support behind him in the lineup because the Braves have strong hitters from positions 1 through 9.
Murphy has the ability to hit 30 home runs in a season, especially if he plays in more games than he did the previous year. It is likely that his batting average may fall short of his projection, perhaps even to the.230–.240 range.
Murphy’s defense—which benefits greatly from his powerful arm—is his greatest asset. Baserunners will be wise to reconsider before taking a swing at him. Before he was acquired, Atlanta sorely needed to make that adjustment.
All things considered, Murph will have a fantastic year as he pursues his goal of becoming one of MLB’s top catchers.