Chris Murphy (baseball)

Chris Murphy
Boston Red Sox – No. 72
Pitcher
Born: (1998-06-05) June 5, 1998 (age 26) Mission Hills, California, U.S.
Bats: Left Throws: Left
MLB debut
June 7, 2023, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics (through 2023 season)
Win–loss record	1–2
Earned run average	4.91
Strikeouts	49
Teams
Boston Red Sox (2023)

Christopher Michael Murphy (born June 5, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Early life and amateur career

Murphy grew up in Granada Hills, California, and attended Granada Hills Charter High School.[1] He was named the CIF Los Angeles City Section's Most Valuable Pitcher as a senior.[2]

Murphy played college baseball for the San Diego Toreros for three seasons. He was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball after posting a 3–4 win–loss record with a 4.17 earned run average (ERA) and a team-high 89 strikeouts.[3] In 2018, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[4] As a junior, Murphy went 4–3 with a 3.50 ERA and 87 strikeouts with 43 walks over 64+1⁄3 innings pitched.[5]

Professional career

Murphy was selected in the sixth round of the 2019 MLB draft by the Boston Red Sox.[6] After signing with the team, he was assigned to the Low-A Lowell Spinners and posted a 1.08 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 33+1⁄3 innings pitched.[7] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] Murphy began the 2021 season with the High-A Greenville Drive before being promoted to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs.[9] Overall with both teams during 2021, Murphy made 21 appearances (20 starts), compiling a 4.62 ERA and 8–5 record while striking out 128 batters in 101+1⁄3 innings.[10]

Murphy began the 2022 season with Portland.[11] He made his Triple-A debut with the Worcester Red Sox on June 30.[12] Overall with both teams, Murphy pitched to a 7–11 record in 30 games (28 starts), posting a 4.03 ERA while striking out 149 batters in 152 innings.[10]

On November 15, 2022, the Red Sox added Murphy to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[13] Murphy was optioned to Triple-A Worcester to begin the 2023 season.[14] In 10 games (9 starts) for Worcester through early June, Murphy registered a 7.71 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 39+2⁄3 innings pitched.[15] He was added to Boston's active major-league roster on June 6.[16] He made his MLB debut the following day, pitching 3+1⁄3 innings of scoreless relief again the Cleveland Guardians.[17] He was optioned back to Worcester on June 8,[18] was briefly on Boston's roster for a doubleheader on June 18,[19] and was recalled on June 23.[20] Murphy impressed in his first long stint with Boston, serving primarily as a bulk reliever.[21] On August 11, Murphy earned his first major-league save, pitching three shutout innings aganist the Detroit Tigers.[22] He split time between Boston and Worcester during the second-half of August and during September.[23][24]

Murphy was placed on the 60–day injured list to begin the 2024 season after suffering a left UCL sprain in his left elbow.[25] He underwent Tommy John surgery on April 10, 2024, ending his season.[26]

References

1. "Baseball: Left-hander Chris Murphy of Granada Hills looks ready for big season". Los Angeles Times. February 14, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
2. "Baseball All-City Teams Announced". cif-la.org. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
3. Kenney, Kirk (February 14, 2018). "Coach Rich Hill says USD has three aces up its sleeve this season". BaltimoreSun.com. The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
4. "Chris Murphy - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
5. "Mason: Cheat sheet for the Top 10 Red Sox draft picks". Gloucester Daily Times. June 7, 2019. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
6. "MLB Draft: USD pitcher Chris Murphy, shortstop Jeff Houghtby are Day 2 picks". The San Diego Union-Tribune. June 4, 2019. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
7. Smith, Christoper (November 18, 2020). "Boston Red Sox prospect Chris Murphy plays for friend he calls 'sister' who died of cancer". MassLive.com. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
8. "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
9. "Sea Dogs open homestand with a bang". The Portland Press Herald. August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
10. "Chris Murphy Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
11. Callis, Jim (April 6, 2022). "Here's where Red Sox Top 30 prospects are starting '22". MLB.com. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
12. Campbell, Brendan (July 1, 2022). "Cup of Coffee: Sale fans seven while Koss goes deep twice in Portland". soxprospects.com. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
13. "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. Boston Red Sox. November 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
14. "Red Sox's Chris Murphy: Sent down to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
15. "Red Sox reportedly call up pitching prospect Chris Murphy". cbsnews.com. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
16. Doyle, Peyton (June 6, 2023). "Red Sox call up Chris Murphy for potential MLB debut Tuesday". Boston.com. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
17. Smith, Christopher (June 7, 2023). "Red Sox rookie Chris Murphy 'felt Jessica out there' during his MLB debut". MassLive.com. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
18. "Red Sox's Chris Murphy: Optioned to Triple-A". CBS Sports. June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
19. "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. Boston Red Sox. June 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
20. "Red Sox recall INF Bobby Dalbec, LHP Chris Murphy from Triple-A". ESPN.com. AP. June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
21. "Red Sox's Chris Murphy: Handling bulk role". CBS Sports. August 5, 2023.
22. "Red Sox's Chris Murphy: Earns three-inning save". CBSSports.com. August 12, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
23. "Red Sox Roster & Staff: Transactions". MLB.com. Boston Red Sox. August 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
24. "Red Sox Roster & Staff: Transactions". MLB.com. Boston Red Sox. September 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
25. "Red Sox Select Joely Rodriguez, Naoyuki Uwasawa". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
26. "Chris Murphy Undergoes Tommy John Surgery". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 10, 2024.

External links

• Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
• San Diego Toreros bio