Tom Murphy (catcher)

Last updated

Tom Murphy
Tom Murphy (cropped).jpg
Murphy with the Colorado Rockies in 2018
Free agent
Catcher
Born: (1991-04-03) April 3, 1991 (age 34)
West Monroe, New York, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 12, 2015, for the Colorado Rockies
Men's baseball
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Pan American Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2015 Toronto Team

Thomas James Murphy Jr. (born April 3, 1991) is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, Seattle Mariners, and San Francisco Giants. Prior to playing professionally, Murphy played college baseball for the University at Buffalo.

Contents

Amateur career

Murphy attended Paul V. Moore High School in Central Square, New York. He had a .510 batting average in his senior year for the school's baseball team and was honored as All-Central New York (CNY) and the CNY Athlete of the Year. [1] In high school, Murphy was recruited to play college baseball at Buffalo, St. John’s, Michigan, Wagner, Le Moyne and Monmouth. [2]

Murphy ultimately committed to play for the University at Buffalo. [3] In the summer of 2010, he played summer baseball with the Oneonta Outlaws of the New York Collegiate Baseball League. [4] In 2011, he was named the Mid-American Conference Baseball Player of the Year after leading the conference with a .384 batting average. [5] That summer, he played for the Holyoke Blue Sox of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) and hit a home run off of Kevin Gausman over the Green Monster at Fenway Park against the United States collegiate national team in the NECBL All-Star Game. [6] [7]

Professional career

Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies selected Murphy in the third round, with the 105th overall selection of the 2012 MLB draft. [8] That summer, he played for the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Low-A Northwest League.

In 2013, Murphy played for the Asheville Tourists of the Single-A South Atlantic League (SAL), where he was named SAL Hitter of the Week for the week of April 29 through May 5. [9] [10] He received a mid-year promotion to the Tulsa Drillers of the Double-A Texas League. [11] In 2014, Murphy returned to Tulsa, but was limited to 27 games as a result of a shoulder injury.

Murphy began the 2015 season with the Rockies' new Double-A affiliate, the New Britain Rock Cats of the Eastern League. [12] He was chosen to play for the United States national team in the 2015 Pan American Games. [13] [14] Following the Pan American Games, the Rockies promoted Murphy to the Albuquerque Isotopes of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League.

The Rockies promoted Murphy to the major leagues on September 11, 2015. [15] he made his MLB debut on September 12 against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. [16] Murphy hit his first MLB home run on September 19 at Coors Field off San Diego Padres pitcher Marcos Mateo. [17] Prior to the 2016 season, Baseball America ranked him the 97th best prospect in baseball. [18] He missed substantial time during the 2016 season due to an oblique injury suffered at the end of spring training. [19] He suffered a broken arm in spring training in 2017. [20] He returned to the majors in mid-June. [21] He batted 1-for-24 for the Rockies in 12 games, benched or in the minors in favor of other catchers, including the newly acquired Jonathan Lucroy. [22] [23]

Seattle Mariners

Murphy was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants on March 25, 2019. [24] On March 28, Murphy was designated for assignment after failing to make the Opening Day roster. [25] The next day, the Giants traded Murphy to the Seattle Mariners for Jesus Ozoria. [26] Murphy excelled upon being acquired by Seattle, as he set career highs offensively including hitting 18 home runs and driving in 40 RBI in 75 games. Murphy missed the entire 2020 season, staying on the injured list with a fractured metatarsal in his left foot. [27]

In 2021, Murphy appeared in a career-high 97 games, hitting .202/.304/.350 with 11 home runs and 34 RBI. The following season, he made 14 appearances for the Mariners, hitting .303/.439/.455 with one home run and one RBI. On June 23, 2022, it was announced that Murphy would require season-ending surgery to repair a shoulder injury. [28]

On January 13, 2023, Murphy agreed to a one-year, $1.625 million contract with the Mariners, avoiding salary arbitration. [29] In 47 games, he batted. 290v with 8 home runs. [22]

San Francisco Giants

On December 23, 2023, Murphy signed a two-year, major league contract with the San Francisco Giants. [30] He hit .118 in 13 games for the Giants before suffering a knee injury while chasing down a wild pitch on May 4, 2024. [31] Murphy was subsequently diagnosed with a left knee sprain [32] and was ruled out for 4-to-6 weeks, [33] which necessitated a move to the 60-day injured list on May 15. He would not play any more games on his contract with the Giants. [34] [35]

On March 27, 2025, Murphy was placed on the 60-day injured list with a herniated disc in his back. [36] He missed the entire 2025 season and rehabilitated at home in New York. [37] The Giants declined the 2026 option on Murphy's contract on November 3, and he became a free agent. [38]

Personal life

Murphy was raised by his parents in West Monroe, New York. [39] The family are fans of the New York Yankees. [6] He has a brother. [2]

Murphy and his wife have two children and reside in Constantia, New York. [40]

References

  1. ↑ "Murphy slays a monster". Oswego County Weeklies. October 17, 2011. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Tom Murphy - Buffalo". University at Buffalo Athletics . Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  3. ↑ Harrington, Mike (June 30, 2021). "Tom Murphy returns with Mariners to a place he never played while at UB". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  4. ↑ "PGCBL Pro Alumni" (PDF). Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  5. ↑ "UB's Murphy wins top honor in MAC baseball - Sports". The Buffalo News. May 28, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  6. 1 2 King, Tom (June 28, 2011). "Tom Murphy of Holyoke Blue Sox blasts one over the Green Monster as Team NECBL downs Team USA". masslive . Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  7. ↑ Gleason, Bucky (April 24, 2012). "One at-bat puts catcher on the radar". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Murphy of UB drafted by Rockies - Sports". The Buffalo News. June 6, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  9. ↑ Ballew, Bill. "SAL notes: Rox's Murphy embraces role | MiLB.com News". Minor League Baseball . Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  10. ↑ Lee, David (May 11, 2013). "Asheville catcher Tom Murphy makes organization look good | The Augusta Chronicle". Chronicle.augusta.com. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  11. ↑ Dykstra, Sam (January 1, 2013). "Butler, Herrera break out for Rockies | MiLB.com News". Minor League Baseball . Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Eastern League notes: Healthy Colorado Rockies prospect Tom Murphy powering New Britain Rock Cats - MiLB.com News - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Minor League Baseball . Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Rock Cats catcher, Tom Murphy, named to USA Baseball roster". New Britain Herald. Central Connecticut Communications. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  14. ↑ Klajman, Ed (July 19, 2015). "Murphy finds heartbreak in baseball final". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Valley Blue Sox alum Tommy Murphy called up by Colorado Rockies". MassLive.com. September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  16. ↑ Groke, Nick (September 13, 2015). "Rockies' manager Walt Weiss unsure of lineup against Clayton Kershaw". Denver Post . Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  17. ↑ Groke, Nick (September 19, 2015). "Rockies pound Padres behind Christian Bergman, dodge 100-loss season". Denver Post . Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Top 100 Prospects". Baseball America . February 13, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  19. ↑ Saunders, Patrick (September 2, 2016). "Tom Murphy and Raimel Tapia called up by Rockies". Denver Post . Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  20. ↑ Groke, Nick (March 14, 2017). "Rockies catcher Tom Murphy has a broken arm as Colorado injuries continue to mount". The Denver Post. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Rockies call-up slugger Tom Murphy and their catching corps is now intact; Carlos Gonzalez sits again". The Denver Post. June 15, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  22. 1 2 "Tom Murphy Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball Reference. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  23. ↑ Kane, Hayden (October 14, 2017). "Rockies catcher Tom Murphy took a step back in 2017". Purple Row. SB Nation. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  24. ↑ McDonald, Jerry (March 25, 2019). "Giants continue search for catching depth, claim Tom Murphy". Mercurynews.com. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  25. ↑ "San Francisco Giants set Opening Day roster, DFA Mac Williamson, Alen Hanson and Tom Murphy". 95.7 The Game. March 28, 2019.
  26. ↑ "Mariners trade for San Francisco Giants catcher Tom Murphy". Tacoma News Tribune. March 14, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  27. ↑ Divish, Ryan (July 22, 2020). "Mariners leaving summer camp without services of catcher Tom Murphy". The Seattle Times . Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Mariners' Tom Murphy: Requires season-ending surgery". CBS Sports. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  29. ↑ Dierkes, Tim (January 14, 2023). "2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  30. ↑ Guardado, Maria (December 23, 2023). "Giants, Murphy officially agree to two-year deal". MLB.com. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Giants' Tom Murphy: Exits with apparent knee injury". CBS Sports. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Giants' Tom Murphy: Lands on injured list". CBS Sports. May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Giants' Tom Murphy: Out 4-to-6 weeks". CBS Sports. May 6, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  34. ↑ "Giants sign old friend Curt Casali to fill void at catcher". NBC Sports Bay Area . May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  35. ↑ "Tom Murphy 2024 Batting Game Logs". Baseball Reference. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  36. ↑ Franco, Anthony (March 26, 2025). "Giants Select Christian Koss". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  37. ↑ Slusser, Susan (August 30, 2025). "Giants catcher Tom Murphy claims malpractice over handling of injury: 'Absolute nightmare'". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  38. ↑ Guardado, Maria (November 3, 2025). "Murphy's injury-plagued stint over as SF declines '26 option". MLB.com. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  39. ↑ Manganiello, Joe (September 12, 2016). "Big league, big flies for star catcher". NNY360. Watertown Daily Times. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  40. ↑ St. Croix, Josh (January 3, 2020). "Tom Murphy finds place with Seattle Mariners". NNY360. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
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