San Francisco Giants backup catcher Tom Murphy will have a delayed start to game action after missing several recent workouts. According to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic, Murphy sustained a mild oblique strain, which could keep him sidelined for up to 10 days.
SF Giants backup catcher will have delayed start in spring training due to injury
It’s still early in spring training, and if Tom Murphy returns by the end of February, he should have ample time to ramp up, get live reps, and be ready to back up Patrick Bailey when the season begins.
That said, this is not the ideal start to spring training for either Murphy or the Giants. Now in the second season of his two-year, $8.25 million deal—which includes a team option for 2026—Murphy was signed to provide veteran depth and serve as a right-handed complement to the switch-hitting Bailey, particularly given the Giants’ preference for using Bailey from the left side.
However, injuries have been a recurring issue for Murphy throughout his career. The nine-year veteran has never played more than 97 games in a season and has landed on the 60-day injured list in three of the past five years. In 2024, he managed just 13 games before a season-ending knee injury.
The silver lining is that this latest setback is relatively minor, and he could return soon. The concern, though, is whether he can stay healthy enough to consistently handle even a backup catcher’s workload, which typically ranges from 40 to 60 games.
For now, Murphy remains under contract, and the Giants are unlikely to part with catching depth unless necessary. In the meantime, Sam Huff, Max Stassi, and Logan Porter will get extra reps behind the plate alongside Bailey.
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