The Atlanta Braves have been dealt another tough blow behind the plate, as catcher Sean Murphy was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a fractured left middle finger. Manager Walt Weiss confirmed that Murphy could be sidelined for up to eight weeks, adding to what has already been a challenging season for the backstop.

In a corresponding move, the Braves signed veteran free agent catcher Sandy León to fill the void. The 37-year-old León, who most recently played in the independent Mexican League, is no stranger to Atlanta—he appeared in five games for the Braves last season, his only MLB action since 2023.

Murphy’s injury occurred in the seventh inning of Sunday’s 7-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, when Dodgers second baseman Hyeseong Kim accidentally struck Murphy’s glove on a swing. The catcher had only played four games this season, going 1-for-14 at the plate, after missing the first 35 games of the season while recovering from right hip surgery last September.

This is a significant setback for the Braves, who were counting on Murphy to share time behind the plate with rookie sensation Drake Baldwin. Baldwin, in his second year, has been an iron man—playing every game this season—and has posted an impressive .892 OPS with 10 home runs. The team had planned to use Murphy to keep Baldwin fresh and allow him to serve as the designated hitter on his rest days.

To bolster the roster further, Atlanta also recalled outfielder José Azócar from Triple-A Gwinnett, following the demotion of infielder Jim Jarvis on Monday.

For Braves fans, this latest injury tests the team’s depth, but with León’s experience and Baldwin’s breakout performance, Atlanta remains resilient behind the dish.