SF Giants backup catcher competition is wide open after Tom Murphy injury

The SF Giants are seemingly about to have an open competition for the backup catcher role. With the news that Tom Murphy could be out for a while with an injury, someone else will likely have to step up and claim the role.

We already knew Murphy was dealing with an injury, but it seems things have gotten worse. According to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area on social media, Murphy has a mid-back disk herniation which made me rub my back just reading it. One hopes this injury is not super serious for Murphy, but it seems highly unlikely that he is going to be ready to go by Opening Day.

This is unfortunate for the 33-year-old veteran who missed practically all of last season with a knee injury after playing in just 13 games. The Giants signed him prior to the 2024 season thinking he would be a solid backup behind Patrick Bailey, but he just has not been available for most of his time in San Francisco.

Injury to Tom Murphy creates open competition for SF Giants backup catcher

Nonetheless, the Giants are going to need someone to backup Bailey, and they were wise to stockpile some contingency plans in the offseason in the event that something like this happened. 

The three likeliest candidates to claim the backup catcher role are Sam Huff, Max Stassi, and Logan Porter. All three are veterans who have experience handling a big league staff which is really what you want the most out of a backup catcher. Sure, it’s a bonus if they can do some damage at the plate, but you really just want someone who is competent defensively and who the pitching staff can trust behind the dish.

Despite that, Huff probably has the very early upper hand thus far by dint of his two-run home run in the first spring training game the Giants played. However, spring training is long so there is plenty of time for someone else to make a strong push for the backup role.

In addition to the homer, Huff is the most recent of the catchers to appear in the big leagues. He was in the majors in 2024, albeit for just three games, while Porter was last in the majors in 2023 and Stassi was last in the majors in 2022. That may not play a huge factor in determining who will get a roster spot but it is at least noteworthy.

Performance will ultimately decide which of these catchers makes the team, but the Giants are going to need someone to step up to ensure they have depth at one of the most important positions in the game.