Atlanta Braves Land Heim to Bolster Catching Depth

The Braves didn’t wait for spring storylines to unfold on their own. They created one, bringing veteran catcher Jonah Heim into the fold on a one‑year major league deal. The move gives Atlanta a steady, battle‑tested presence behind the plate at a moment when stability matters most.

Why Heim Fits Atlanta’s Early-Season Needs

Sean Murphy’s hip injury left the Braves with a clear gap at catcher heading into camp. Murphy is expected to return sometime in May, but that still leaves a sizable stretch of games where Atlanta needs someone who can handle a staff, control the running game, and offer competitive at‑bats.

Heim arrives with a résumé that carries weight in any clubhouse. He was more than a steady presence during the Rangers’ 2023 championship push he was one of the engines that kept that team moving. Texas leaned on him in every tight spot, and he handled the workload like someone who had been doing it for a decade.

What Heim Brings to the Braves

Heim’s defensive reputation alone makes him valuable, but his offensive track record adds another layer. During his breakout 2023 season, he hit .258 with 18 homers and 95 RBIs, numbers that stand out at a position where league‑average production is hard to find. Even in a down year at the plate last season, he remained a respected presence who could grind through at‑bats and manage a pitching staff with poise.

Atlanta doesn’t need him to be a middle‑of‑the‑order force. They need him to steady the early‑season transition, support young standout Drake Baldwin, and keep the pitching staff in rhythm until Murphy returns. Heim’s track record suggests he’s more than capable of doing exactly that.

How Heim Changes the Catching Picture

Baldwin, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, is set to open the season as the primary catcher. Heim’s arrival gives the Braves a veteran complement who can handle a significant workload without disrupting Baldwin’s development. It also prevents Atlanta from overextending its depth chart during Murphy’s absence.

The Braves have long valued defensive reliability behind the plate, and Heim fits that identity. His ability to control the running game—throwing out nearly 30% of attempted base stealers during his peak season—adds a dimension Atlanta lacked at times last year. His presence should help stabilize the pitching staff from day one.

A Low-Risk, High-Reward Move

Signing Heim on a one‑year deal gives the Braves flexibility. If he recaptures his 2023 form, Atlanta gains one of the league’s most complete catchers at a bargain. If he simply provides steady defense and veteran leadership, the signing still pays off. The Braves aren’t gambling on upside they’re investing in certainty.

Heim has been through enough high‑stakes baseball to know how to steady a team, and that kind of background carries weight in a clubhouse trying to reset after missing the postseason in 2025. He’s lived the pressure of a championship run, handled the grind of a long year, and come out of it as someone teammates naturally look toward when things tighten up. That experience doesn’t show up on a stat sheet, but it matters over six months.

What Comes Next for Heim and Atlanta

The Braves expect Murphy back in May, but Heim’s role won’t evaporate when that happens. Catching depth is a season‑long necessity, and Heim’s defensive skill set ensures he’ll remain a key part of the roster. Atlanta has built a reputation for finding undervalued contributors, and Heim fits that mold perfectly.

The move sends a pretty direct message about how Atlanta plans to operate this year. The Braves aren’t sitting back and hoping things sort themselves out. They saw a hole on the roster, moved quickly to plug it, and did it with a player who has already shown he can handle big moments.