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Physical Description: Athletic
frame with minimal remaining projection. Looks bigger than
listed height and weight. Average lower half, medium build.
Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm
slot, starting on the third base side of the rubber. Takes two
small steps before a medium leg kick. Drives towards the plate
with a big stride and gets good extension. Left leg kicks up on
follow-through. Can tend to fall off towards third base
post-delivery. Quick, compact arm action. Slight arm hook with
some effort behind. Does not consistently finish delivery and
can lose release point at times.
Fastball:
91-94 mph. Tops out at 96 mph. Control comes and goes in
outings. Command is inconsistent. Struggles especially with
locating to the glove side; much more comfortable locating
arm-side. Potential average pitch with refined command.
Changeup: 83-85 mph. Pitch shows late fade down
and away from right-handed hitters. Thrown with deceptive arm
speed. Will throw in any count. Inconsistent with his release at
times. Has improved significantly since he joined the
organization to the point he now has advanced feel for the pitch
and it is his best secondary. Potential solid-average pitch.
Slider: 84-88 mph. More horizontal with
shorter break. Pitch is tighter than his curveball. Can be
effective when used in sequence with his other pitches. Used to
be designed to steal a strike early in the count, but has shown
more confidence in it in 2023. Potential fringe-average pitch.
Curveball: 73-77 mph. Deep, 1-to-7 break.
Has some feel for spin, but does not consistently get over the
ball. When he does, shows the ability to backdoor it for a
strike or induce swinging strikes out of the zone. Most
effective when used in sequence, especially early in the count
to steal a strike. Potential fringe-average pitch. |
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Career Notes: Not drafted out of high school,
but was recruited by several top Division-I colleges in
California. Played for Brewster in the Cape Cod League in 2018,
struggling with control issues. Had a fairly impressive junior
season at San Diego despite walking more than 6 batters per 9
innings. Pitching crosschecker Chris Mears strongly advocated
for the Red Sox to select Murphy in the 2019 Draft. Cut down on
walks dramatically after signing, reportedly due to minor
mechanical tweaks. Participated in the Fall Instructional League
in 2019 and 2020. Posted extreme splits in 2021, dominating
left-handed hitters (.401 OPS, 0 HR) but getting hit very hard
by right-handers (.914 OPS, 21 HR), but this did not carry
forward, at least to that extreme. Participated in the Fall
Performance Program in 2021. Participated in 2022 Winter
Warm-Up. Added to the 40-man roster in November 2022 to protect
him from selection in the Rule 5 Draft. Participated in 2023
Rookie Development Program. Placed on the 60-day injured list to
begin the 2024 season with a left UCL sprain. Had Tommy John
Surgery on April 10, 2024.
Summation:
Potential up-and-down, multi-inning relief arm. Ceiling of a
fifth starter or bulk reliever. Will show four pitches, but
stuff has shown to be effective in short outings when he can cut
down his arsenal. In either role, needs to continue to improve
his command and control and find more consistency with secondary
pitches. Chances of starting are better now than when he first
joined the organization, but still has major issues getting
right-handed hitters out. Stuff could play better in short
stints. Works hard and has made major strides since signing.
Links
State of the System: Low Minors Pitchers (4.2.2020)
Scouting Report Update (8.12.2020)
Scout Chatter (11.30.2020)
Countdown to Spring Training (3.7.2023)
Notes from the Field (5.1.2023) |
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