Let’s be so honest – would you even believe the Atlanta Braves had the best record in baseball if you’d been told that both Sean Murphy and reigning NL Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin were on the IL at the same time?
For eight glorious days we had our elite catching tandem, arguably the best in the league. And now, as respectfully as I can say it, we are rocking with Sandy León and Chadwick Tromp.
The next-man-up mentality and depth has been very important to AA and the Braves, particularly this season. It’s been tested a fair bit and we haven’t even flipped the calendar to June.
To replenish the catching options in Triple-A, the Braves have claimed Maverick Handley off of waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. He’s been up with the O’s twice this season and his singular PA this season came on May 16 versus the Nationals before he was DFA’d on May 19. In the 2025 season in which he debuted, he had 41 ABs in 16 games, slashing .073/.133/ 0.73.
The corresponding move is Hurston Waldrep (loose bodies) moving to the 60-day IL. Last we heard, he had begun throwing bullpens in Florida, but no timetable on rehab. They were targeting June for game action but it’s looking like it’ll be a little while yet til we see #64.