Braves Claim Maverick Handley as Hurston Waldrep Moves to 60-Day IL

In a surprising twist, the Atlanta Braves, who currently boast the best record in baseball, find themselves navigating a challenging roster situation. This comes as both Sean Murphy and reigning NL Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin are sidelined with injuries, leaving the team to rely on a less-experienced catching duo of Sandy León and Chadwick Tromp.

For a brief period, Braves fans enjoyed the luxury of having their elite catching tandem intact, a combination many consider the best in the league. However, with injuries taking their toll, the club’s next-man-up mentality is being put to the test earlier than expected this season.

To bolster their catching depth in Triple-A, the Braves have claimed Maverick Handley off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. Handley has made two brief appearances with the Orioles this season, with his only plate appearance occurring on May 16 against the Nationals before being designated for assignment on May 19. In his debut season in 2025, he logged 41 at-bats over 16 games, posting a .073 batting average.

In a related move, Hurston Waldrep has been placed on the 60-day injured list due to loose bodies in his arm. Previously, Waldrep had begun throwing bullpen sessions in Florida, with hopes of returning to game action by June. However, the latest developments suggest that his return may take a bit longer than initially anticipated.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.