John Ryan Murphy

John Ryan Murphy (born May 13, 1991), also known as J. R. Murphy, is an American professional baseball catcher who is currently a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Atlanta Braves.

For the Massachusetts politician, see John R. Murphy.

John Ryan Murphy
Murphy with the Yankees in 2013
Free agent
Catcher
Born: (1991-05-13) May 13, 1991
Bradenton, Florida
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 2, 2013, for the New York Yankees
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Batting average.218
Home runs18
Runs batted in61
Teams

Career

High school

Murphy attended The Pendleton School at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.[1] He played for the school's baseball team as a pitcher and third baseman in his freshman year of high school, moving to catcher for his sophomore season.[2] In his senior year, Murphy had a .627 batting average, with 11 home runs and 66 runs batted in (RBIs).[1]

Minor leagues

Murphy committed to attend the University of Miami to play college baseball for the Miami Hurricanes. However, he was drafted by the Yankees in the second round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft and signed with them for a $1.25 million signing bonus.[2] He played for the Charleston RiverDogs of the Class A South Atlantic League in 2010, and returned to Charleston for the start of the 2011 season.[2] He received a promotion to the Tampa Yankees of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League at midseason. The Yankees invited Murphy to spring training in 2012.[3] He played for Tampa and the Trenton Thunder of the Class AA Eastern League in 2012.

Murphy in 2015

Murphy began the 2013 season with Trenton. On June 13, 2013, the Yankees promoted Murphy to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the Class AAA International League, the highest level in minor league baseball.[4] Murphy had a .269 batting average with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs in Trenton and Scranton.

New York Yankees

On September 1, 2013, Murphy was called up to the Yankees when rosters were expanded,[5] pinch-hitting a single in his first major league at-bat on September 2, 2013, against the Chicago White Sox.[6] He made his first major league start on September 14.[7] He was behind the plate during Mariano Rivera's last game at Yankee Stadium.[8]

Murphy competed with Francisco Cervelli and Austin Romine to be the backup catcher for the Yankees in spring training in 2014.[9] Cervelli won the job, and Murphy was optioned to the minor leagues.[10] Cervelli suffered a hamstring injury on April 13, and was placed on the 60-day disabled list, resulting in the Yankees calling up Murphy to replace Cervelli as the backup catcher.[11] On April 26, 2014, Murphy hit his first career home run against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Yankee Stadium and also notched his very first multi-RBI game by driving in a total of three runs.[12] Murphy remained with the Yankees until June 17, when Cervelli was activated from the disabled list and Murphy was optioned back down to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.[13]

The Yankees traded Cervelli in the 2014–15 offseason, and Murphy competed with Romine in spring training to be McCann's backup for the 2015 season.[14] Murphy won the competition, and Romine was designated for assignment.[15] On July 23, 2015, Murphy hit singles off both the second-base and third-base bags.[16] On July 25, Murphy hit a game-winning three-run home run against Glen Perkins of the Minnesota Twins to finish off a comeback win from 5–0 at Target Field in Minneapolis, his second career home run.[17] Murphy finished the 2015 season with a .277 batting average and three home runs in 172 plate appearances.[18]

Minnesota Twins

The Yankees traded Murphy to the Minnesota Twins for Aaron Hicks on November 11, 2015.[18][19] Murphy started the 2016 season as the backup catcher to Kurt Suzuki. On May 6, 2016, after beginning the season 3-for-40 (.075), the Twins optioned Murphy to the Rochester Red Wings of the International League.[20] He spent most of the season in Rochester, ending the year with a .146 average in 26 major league games.[21] He returned to Rochester to start the 2017 season after losing the backup catching job to veteran Chris Gimenez.[22] With Rochester, Murphy batted .222 in 59 games.[23]

Arizona Diamondbacks

On July 27, 2017, the Twins traded Murphy to the Arizona Diamondbacks for minor league pitcher Gabriel Moya.[23] The Diamondbacks assigned Murphy to the Reno Aces of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League, and promoted him to the major leagues on September 1.[24]

Murphy made the Diamondbacks' Opening Day roster in 2018 as the third catcher, serving with Alex Avila and Jeff Mathis.[25] Murphy played in 87 games, hitting a career high nine home runs with 24 RBIs. On April 30, 2019, Murphy struck out against CC Sabathia for Sabathia's 3,000 strikeout.[26]

On May 25, 2019, the Diamondbacks designated Murphy for assignment. Murphy cleared waivers and was outrighted to Reno on June 1.[27]

Atlanta Braves

On July 31, 2019, the Diamondbacks traded Murphy to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations.[28] They assigned him to the Gwinnett Stripers of the International League. On September 17, the Braves selected Murphy's contract, promoting him to the major leagues.[29] Murphy was non-tendered on December 2, 2019, and became a free agent.[30]

Pittsburgh Pirates

On January 10, 2020, Murphy signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates.[31] On July 20, 2020, Murphy had his contract selected to the 40-man roster. On October 30, 2020, Murphy was outrighted off of the 40-man roster. He elected free agency on November 2, 2020.

Personal life

Murphy grew up as a fan of the Boston Red Sox.[32] In 2015, his mother, Caroline, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.[21]

References
  1. Lembo, John (June 7, 2009). "Pendleton School's Murphy excited about MLB Draft". Bradenton Herald. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  2. Miller, Andrew (June 1, 2011). "Charleston RiverDogs' John Ryan Murphy just wants his shot: 'It doesn't matter where I play'". The Post and Courier. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  3. "Yankees invite 27 players to Spring Training". MLB.com (Press release). February 8, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  4. DiPietro, Lou (June 13, 2013). "Yankees promote catcher John Ryan Murphy to Triple-A". YES Network. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  5. Vitale, Josh (September 1, 2013). "Adams returns to Yanks, catcher Murphy also up". MLB.com. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  6. Schonbrun, Zach (September 2, 2013). "With Eight-Run Fourth, Yankees Roll Past White Sox". The New York Times. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  7. Hoch, Bryan (September 14, 2013). "Murphy makes first big league start behind plate". MLB.com. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  8. Araton, Harvey. "Young Catcher Can Help Tell Ending to Rivera's Story". New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  9. McCarron, Anthony (December 2, 2013). "Yankees' Francisco Cervelli, Austin Romine ahead of J.R. Murphy in competition to be Brian McCann's backup | New York Daily News". New York Daily News. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  10. Castillo, Jorge (March 24, 2014). "Yankees select Francisco Cervelli as backup catcher". NJ.com. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  11. Martin, Dan (April 15, 2014). "Yankees call up Scott Sizemore, John Ryan Murphy | New York Post". Nypost.com. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  12. McCarron, Anthony (April 28, 2014). "Catcher John Ryan Murphy a revelation for Yankees". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  13. Collier, Jamal; Kring-Schreifels, Jake (June 17, 2014). "Cervelli rejoins Yanks; Murphy optioned to Triple-A". MLB.com. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  14. McCarron, Anthony (February 14, 2015). "Austin Romine determined to be Yankees' backup catcher". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  15. Rieber, Anthony (April 4, 2015). "Yankees choose John Ryan Murphy over Austin Romine". Newsday. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  16. "Murphy singles twice off bases". MLB.com. July 23, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  17. "New York Yankees vs Minnesota Twins July 25, 2015". SI.com. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  18. "Twins trade OF Aaron Hicks to Yankees for C John Ryan Murphy". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  19. Harper, John (February 10, 2016). "GM Brian Cashman takes the Daily News inside the Yankees' offseason trades". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  20. "Murphy sent down, Mastroianni and Centeno up as Twins make flurry of moves". Fox Sports. May 6, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  21. Bollinger, Rhett. "Twins John Ryan Murphy moves past trying year". MLB.com. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  22. "Minnesota Twins catcher Chris Gimenez and his beard visit DMan's World". cleveland.com. September 28, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  23. "D-backs Acquire John Ryan Murphy from Twins for Gabriel Moya". MLB.com. July 27, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  24. McLennan, Jim (September 1, 2017). "Call-ups for D-backs: Bracho, Hoover, Murphy, Shipley, Negrón". AZ Snake Pit. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  25. "Arizona Diamondbacks: John Ryan Murphy joins launch-angle revolution". Azcentral.com. April 13, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  26. "CC reaches one of MLB's most iconic milestones". MLB.com. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  27. "D-backs recall Taylor Clarke, designate John Ryan Murphy for assignment". Arizonasports.com. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  28. "Braves and Diamondbacks Complete Trade". MLB.com. July 31, 2019.
  29. "Braves place Charlie Culberson on 60-day IL, make room for John Ryan Murphy ahead of postseason". www.sportingnews.com.
  30. Mark Bowman (December 2, 2019). "Braves non-tender Culberson, tender 7 contracts". MLB.com. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  31. Adams, Steve (January 10, 2020). "Pirates, John Ryan Murphy Agree to Minor League Deal". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  32. Araton, Harvey (September 27, 2013). "Young Catcher Can Help Tell Ending to Rivera's Story". The New York Times. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
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