The Atlanta Braves knew they were getting one of the top catchers in baseball when they acquired Sean Murphy prior to the 2023 campaign. Despite the high price to acquire him, Murphy was making the first half of 2023 look like a complete steal with a slash line of.306/.400/.599, looking ready to challenge for the National League MVP.
Murphy, though, started to fade significantly in the second half. Not only did he struggle with a.585 OPS in the second half of 2023, but he also had a hamstring ailment that made matters worse. It turns out that many of Murphy’s problems might have had an explanation.
Several intriguing tidbits from Braves Fest were revealed in a post mortem conducted by our friends at Battery Power. Perhaps no tidbit was more important than Murphy’s remarks at Braves Fest, when he disclosed that it was difficult for him to adjust to playing in the kind of heat experienced in Atlanta throughout the summer.
Sean Murphy might perform in 2024 if he can withstand the heat.
Murphy’s problems suddenly make a lot more sense. Given that Travis d’Arnaud was out with a concussion and Murphy had to play a lot of minutes in the first half, it is understandable that he became fatigued. He also had trouble staying hydrated and was not used to the summertime heat at Truist.
His hamstring problem may also have been caused by the heat, as even athletes who have played in hot environments before have experienced dehydration and cramping. Max Fried is known for having sweaty palms, and the heat has occasionally made his blister problems worse while he was a member of the Braves.
We might be in for a remarkable season out of Murphy, assuming he and the Braves have a strategy in place to help him adjust to the heat and stay on the field. Murphy finished second among catchers in all of baseball in 2023 with 4.5 fWAR, behind William Contreras, the player who was traded for him. This is despite the fact that his output collapsed in the second half of the previous season. Watch out if he can just produce at the plate consistently over the entire season.
However, there is a slight reason to be concerned. The Braves have signed Murphy to a deal that runs through at least 2028. For the foreseeable future, the Braves need Murphy to be able to play in the heat since Travis d’Arnaud’s career is coming to an end. That extension of his might not seem like such a good deal if he struggles throughout the sweltering summer months.