Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy will miss the remainder of the 2025 MLB season after being diagnosed with a right hip labral tear. The injury, which has been a recurring issue for Murphy over the past three years, will require surgery to be performed by Dr. Thomas Byrd in Nashville. Braves president Alex Anthopoulos expressed optimism about Murphy's recovery, suggesting he could return without restrictions for spring training and possibly rejoin the 26-man roster next season.

Murphy, 30, has struggled with injuries since his All-Star debut with the Braves in 2023. Despite hitting 16 home runs this season, his performance declined late in the year, ending with a .199 batting average. Rookie catcher Drake Baldwin, with 15 home runs and 63 RBIs in 106 games, will assume a larger role behind the plate. Additionally, veteran catcher Sandy Leon has been promoted from Triple-A Gwinnett to support the team as it starts a series against the Cubs.

In other news, St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras has returned to the team after serving a four-game suspension resulting from an incident on August 25 during a home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Contreras was originally suspended for six games but had the penalty reduced after an appeal. During the incident, he was ejected after arguing with umpire Derek Thomas, making physical contact with the umpire, and using foul language. His frustration escalated as he was restrained by manager Oliver Marmol and hitting coach Brant Brown. Contreras then threw his helmet and bat—accidentally striking Brown—and later tossed bubble gum from the dugout. The Cardinals posted a 2-2 record in his absence. The 33-year-old catcher is hitting .254 with 20 home runs and a personal best of 78 RBIs in 130 games this season.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Cubs have placed All-Star right fielder Kyle Tucker on the 10-day injured list due to a strained left calf, with the move retroactive to September 6. Tucker has been out of games since September 2 and is eligible to return on September 16. Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted that Tucker experienced a setback after previously showing some improvement, prompting the team to give him more recovery time. Tucker, who joined the Cubs after seven seasons with the Houston Astros, is hitting .270 with a team-leading .854 OPS and has 22 home runs. In response to his absence, the Cubs have recalled catcher Moisés Ballesteros from Triple-A Iowa.

In a significant development, Major League Baseball has acquired a stake in Jomboy Media as part of a strategic partnership aimed at expanding MLB's digital presence. Announced on June 10, 2025, the collaboration will incorporate Jomboy Media's content, including popular shows like "Talkin' Baseball," "Talkin' Yanks," and "The Warehouse Games," across MLB's digital platforms. The partnership will also focus on intellectual property development and advertising opportunities around major MLB events such as the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby. Founded in 2017 by Jimmy "Jomboy" O’Brien and Jake Storiale, Jomboy Media reported record revenue and over 93 million social media engagements in the past year. The company’s flagship series, “The Warehouse Games,” has garnered nearly 400 million views. MLB Deputy Commissioner Noah Garden praised O’Brien’s ability to connect with fans, while O’Brien highlighted the pivotal role of their community in the company’s growth. The deal is expected to enhance fan engagement and deepen MLB's connection with its digital audience.

Additionally, ESPN and Major League Baseball will end their national television deal after the 2025 season. ESPN has notified MLB of its decision to opt out of the final three years of their contract, which averaged $550 million per season in a deal struck in 2021. This decision reflects ESPN's shift in focus, scaling back its baseball coverage, which used to include up to 90 regular-season games and daily highlight shows. MLB, disappointed by ESPN's reduced investment, expressed that the network's demand to lower rights fees was unacceptable. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred indicated in a memo that despite ESPN's interest in retaining MLB content, they would not accept a devaluation of their rights by sticking with a shrinking platform. This move opens the way for MLB to explore new partnerships with traditional and streaming media companies as they pursue a more national broadcasting strategy.