Braves' Strider, Murphy to Rehab in High-A Rome

Pitching prospect Strider and catcher Murphy will begin recovery assignments with the Rome Emperors

Apr. 14, 2026 at 8:38pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the motion of a baseball pitcher throwing a pitch and a catcher receiving the ball, with the players' forms broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, red, and white.The Braves' young stars Strider and Murphy take the first steps in their recovery journeys, aiming to rejoin the defending champions' lineup.Rome Today

The Atlanta Braves have announced that pitching prospect Spencer Strider and catcher Sean Murphy will both begin rehabilitation assignments with the High-A Rome Emperors this week. Strider, who suffered an oblique injury late in spring training, is expected to throw 40-45 pitches in his first start on Thursday. Murphy will join Strider as his battery mate as the catcher also works his way back from an injury.

Why it matters

The returns of Strider and Murphy are crucial for the Braves, who are looking to build on their recent World Series championship. Strider emerged as one of the team's top young pitchers last season, while Murphy was acquired in a major offseason trade to bolster the lineup. Getting both players healthy and back on the field will be a big boost for the Braves as they aim to contend in the NL East.

The details

Strider will make his first rehab start on Thursday, joining Murphy who is expected to begin his assignment tonight. Braves manager Walt Weiss said the team will be cautious with Strider's workload as he recovers from the oblique injury, which can be tricky. The plan is for Strider to throw 40-45 pitches in his first outing. After that, the team will evaluate how he responds and determine the next steps in his rehab process.

  • Strider will make his first rehab start on Thursday, April 17, 2026.
  • Murphy is expected to begin his rehab assignment tonight, April 16, 2026.

The players

Spencer Strider

A top pitching prospect in the Braves' system who emerged as a key part of the rotation last season before suffering an oblique injury late in spring training.

Sean Murphy

An All-Star catcher acquired by the Braves in a major offseason trade, who is working his way back from an injury.

Walt Weiss

The manager of the Atlanta Braves.

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What they’re saying

“While Murphy is expected to begin his rehab stint tonight, he'll serve as a battery mate with Spencer Strider on Thursday night since that's when Strider will make his first start since suffering an oblique injury during the tail end of spring training.”

— Walt Weiss, Braves Manager

What’s next

The Braves will closely monitor Strider's progress and recovery during his rehab assignment, with the goal of getting him back to the major league roster as soon as he is fully healthy. The team will also be watching Murphy's rehab stint to ensure he is ready to return and provide a boost to the lineup.

The takeaway

The returns of young pitching star Spencer Strider and All-Star catcher Sean Murphy are crucial for the defending champion Braves as they look to build on their World Series victory. Getting these two key players healthy and back on the field will be a major boost for Atlanta as they aim to repeat in the competitive NL East.