Braves getting creative with catching options

Atlanta Braves pinch hitter Kyle Farmer. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Braves getting creative with catching options

By David Hill | Last updated Jun 23, 2026 6:59 PM ET

The Atlanta Braves' catcher position has been a revolving door.

Primary catcher Drake Baldwin missed nearly a month due to a strained right oblique. Fellow catcher Sean Murphy has appeared in only four games this season as he missed the first six weeks due to a right hip labral tear and returned to the injured list due to a fractured left middle finger.

Meanwhile, the Braves have cycled through six other catchers in an attempt to find some consistency behind the plate.

Another name may be added to that revolving door. Mark Bowman of MLB.com reported that utility man Kyle Farmer will see time behind the plate when he begins his rehab assignment on Wednesday.

Kyle Farmer will reacquaint himself with the catching position when he begins his rehab assignment tomorrow.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) June 23, 2026

Kyle Farmer could return to old position for Atlanta Braves

Farmer does have experience as a catcher. He began his professional career behind the plate in the Dodgers organization, though he began to see time at third base in 2015. Farmer began his transition to a utility man in 2017, playing at each infield position while continuing to work as a catcher.

He has some major league experience behind the plate as well. Farmer has suited up as a catcher 19 times in the majors, though the majority of that action took place with the Reds in 2019. He has not seen time behind the plate in the professional ranks since.

Farmer had been a seldom-used option on the Braves bench before landing on the IL with a strained right forearm, receiving only 15 plate appearances in nearly two months. If the experiment works, and Farmer can readapt to catching, that could be his ticket to more playing time for the Braves.

David Hill

Based in the mountains of Vermont, Dave has over a decade of experience writing about all things baseball. Just don't ask his thoughts on the universal DH.

More must-reads: