In a move that underscores the Atlanta Braves' incredible depth this season, the team designated former All-Star catcher Jonah Heim for assignment—just one day after he delivered a standout performance with a 2-for-5, one-homer game against the Colorado Rockies.
The timing is brutal. Heim, 30, went deep for the first time this season in Atlanta's 11-6 win on Sunday, raising his slash line to .231/.311/.410 over 12 games. But with starting catcher Drake Baldwin—the reigning National League Rookie of the Year and current MLB leader in hits (45) and runs (32)—locked into the everyday role, the Braves needed roster flexibility.
Enter Sean Murphy, a former All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner in his own right. Murphy, 31, missed most of the 2025 season after tearing his right hip labrum last September, and his return from injury rehab has been steady if not spectacular: a .235 average over nine games with Triple-A Gwinnett.
What makes this move even more remarkable is the sheer luxury of swapping one All-Star catcher for another at a position that will see limited action behind Baldwin. It's a testament to why the Braves boast the best record in baseball at 25-10 through May 3.
Heim signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal in February, fully aware that his time might be short once Murphy recovered. His lone All-Star nod came in 2023 with the Texas Rangers, a season that ended with a World Series title. But his production has dipped since then, slashing just .217/.269/.334 over the last two seasons.
Still, Heim's track record is solid: from 2021 to 2025, he averaged 14 home runs and 55 RBIs per season. That kind of production, combined with his experience behind the plate, should make him an attractive pickup for a team in need of catching depth. His brief but productive stint in Atlanta—including that Sunday home run—might just be enough to land him a new home quickly.
For now, the Braves roll with the dynamic duo of Baldwin and Murphy, a battery that could be one of the best in baseball. And for Heim? It's back to the drawing board, but with a recent highlight reel that speaks for itself.