Earlier this year, Braves fans received their first look at JR Ritchie, who’s worked as both a starter and reliever with Atlanta this season. Now, Owen Murphy is primed to join Ritchie, as the Braves officially promoted the former first-round pick on July 6.
A Look at Murphy
The Braves selected Owen Murphy with one of two first-round picks in the 2022 MLB Draft. Murphy was selected 20th overall, 15 picks before Atlanta scooped JR Ritchie, who beat the former out to the Majors by a few months.
His first full pro season went well despite a 4.72 ERA, as Murphy struck out 113 over 89 innings between Low-A and High-A. Then, Murphy missed most of 2024 and 2025 due to Tommy John surgery. However, he bounced back very well with 34 strikeouts over 30 innings and a pristine 1.19 ERA across seven outings, split between the FCL and High-A.
Murphy moved to Double-A to start 2026. However, he wasn’t long for the level, as the Braves pushed him to Triple-A despite some walks. The walks, though, weren’t much of a problem with Triple-A Gwinnett. Overall, he struck out 65 over 60.1 IP, walked 20, and posted a sub-4.00 ERA with the Stripers.
In terms of swing-and-miss pitchers at the Triple-A level this season, Murphy ranked among the top ten (min. 400 induced swings).
The 22-year-old prospect wields a lot of weapons in his arsenal, highlighted by a low-to-mid-90s fastball with significant vertical action, which obviously lends itself to getting swing-and-miss up in the zone. Overall, his four-seam fastball had a Whiff% of 27.1% with Gwinnett.
Aside from that, Murphy will work in a changeup, a cutter, a slider that sat in the low-80s with a high swing-and-miss rate, above 40%, plus a tight curveball. Additionally, Murphy does have a sinker in there, as well, not uncommon these days to see a pitcher throw three different fastballs.
Murphy, though, did have a problem with avoiding the well-hit contact down in the Minors. Thirteen home runs were allowed over those 81 innings. And overall, his four-seamer (16% Barrel%) and changeup (19%) were touched on more so than any other of his offerings.
The Braves officially selected Owen Murphy’s contract on July 6 from Triple-A.
Analysis
Atlanta had to add Murphy to the 40-man roster before November anyway. This move gets the Braves ahead of the game.
Despite what has been a year where, yet again, the Braves have needed to navigate pitching injuries, Atlanta’s rotation has not been a significant weakness. Much of that has been thanks to the Braves getting quality innings from staff ace Chris Sale, plus Martin Perez. However, Perez was placed on the IL on the 6th, one day after he was removed for a forearm injury.
Murphy is one of the Braves’ top prospects, thanks to impressive stuff and his ability to get outs in controllable situations. But despite that, Murphy won’t likely be an option for the Braves’ rotation now.
Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, Hurston Waldrep, Bryce Elder, and Grant Holmes appear to be the starting five for now, even though there were whispers that Holmes could move out of the rotation.
Meaning, for now, Murphy appears slated for a bullpen role, where his stuff could play up well for now.
Check out more of our MLB coverage.