Latest updates on Craig Kimbrel and Sean Murphy

Murphy should be back within the next couple of weeks, but Drake Baldwin certainly wasn’t the problem for the Braves against the Padres. If anything, his approach at the plate along with his defense was one of the glaring positives. Baldwin looks like he’s ready to be a significant contributor at the major-league level right now, so it will be intriguing to see how the Braves handle the situation behind the plate once Murphy rejoins the club.

Additionally, Craig Kimbrel, who signed with the Braves just a couple of weeks before Opening Day, threw at batting practice over the weekend as he continues to ramp things up.

Drake Baldwin’s performance may not have hindered the Braves from winning in San Diego, but the bullpen is a much more pressing concern. Hector Neris shouldn’t be relied upon in high leverage situations for a team with championship aspirations. The Braves desperately need to find some other guys they can trust, and while Kimbrel’s performance over the last 5-6 years has been inconsistent, the upside is there for him to be a very valuable piece in Atlanta this season.

However, Kimbrel alone isn’t going to fix the Braves bullpen. This is a group that must be added to throughout the season to get where it needs to be at the end of the year.