For the better part of the last decade, many regarded J.T. Realmuto as the best catcher in MLB. The former Marlin and current Phillies backstop has made three All-Star teams in addition to winning three Silver Slugger awards and two Gold Glove awards. However, one catcher this season is outperforming Realmuto: Atlanta's Sean Murphy.
Sean Murphy has 12 homers through 180 at-bats (15 AB/HR) . He hit a career-high 18 homers in 537 at-bats last year (29.8 AB/HR). pic.twitter.com/WTdowB1m13
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) June 8, 2023
This past offseason, the Braves acquired Murphy from Oakland in a three-team trade and promptly extended him for six years. Since then, Murphy has operated as one of the best catchers in the league, performing well in every facet of the game.
Defensively, Murphy has been a weapon. Catcher framing runs put a run value to the strikes catchers "steal" through framing. Murphy's six catcher framing runs rank second in the league, only behind Pittsburgh's Austin Hedges.
Additionally, Murphy ranks as top-10 in the league at preventing wild pitches while being tied for second in pop time, the time it takes to throw to second base.
Want to see a 1.86 pop time?
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) April 3, 2023
Want to see Sean Murphy throw it again? pic.twitter.com/YjOOekQh0J
Offensively, Murphy has improved significantly in his new home. Leaving Oakland Coliseum and its cavernous outfield has done wonders for his numbers -- the backstop's .920 OPS is well above his OPS in years prior. It's also the best among qualified catchers by a long shot, with Kansas City's Salvador Perez's .817 OPS the closest.
Murphy also ranks second in homers (12), RBIs (42) and on-base percentage (.384). However, the catchers ahead of him in those categories don't have the well-rounded game defensively that Murphy does.
At only 28, Murphy is just entering the prime of his career and has a bright future. He is looking to make the first All-Star team of his career. As of Monday's update, he leads all National League catchers in voting:
Ronald Acuña Jr. leads all of MLB in All-Star votes so far, ahead of Shohei Ohtani, but the #Braves also have two other vote leaders at their positions, catcher Sean Murphy and Orlando Arcia, a surprising but deserving leader at shortstop. pic.twitter.com/6F1JiTj0Eb
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) June 12, 2023
Murphy could very well be the best catcher in baseball.
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