The Rangers have signed right-handed pitcher Patrick Murphy to a minor league contract, the crew introduced. The deal comes with an invite to spring coaching. Murphy final appeared within the majors in 2022.
Over elements of three seasons with the Blue Jays and Nationals from 2020-22, Murphy pitched 39 2/3 innings throughout 35 video games. He put up a 4.76 ERA and 4.31 SIERA, thanks largely to a 48.0% groundball fee that helped him restrict opposing batters to only three house runs. Nonetheless, that wasn’t sufficient to maintain both Toronto or Washington interested by having him round for lengthy. The Blue Jays, who drafted the righty in 2013, designated him for task in August 2021. The Nationals, who had picked him up off of waivers, despatched him outright to Triple-A in April 2022. He elected free company on the finish of the season.
Murphy spent the 2023 marketing campaign within the Twins system. He pitched comparatively properly at Triple-A, placing up a 3.69 ERA and 4.40 FIP in a hybrid reliever/lengthy reliever/starter function. Sadly, he did not earn a promotion to the large league squad at any level throughout the 12 months. Nonetheless, his efficiency drew the eye of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of NPB, who signed him to a one-year contract with a crew choice for 2025.
Murphy had a serviceable 2o24 marketing campaign for the Fighters. His 3.26 ERA in 38 2/3 innings seems spectacular by MLB requirements, nevertheless it’s vital to needless to say the league-average ERA within the Pacific League this previous 12 months was 3.04. What’s extra, his 9.5% stroll fee was notably worse than the 7.3% league common. Murphy additionally made a handful of begins for the Fighters’ minor league affiliate within the Jap League, pitching to a 4.29 ERA in 21 innings; the league common was 3.28.
On the finish of the season, the Fighters selected to not train Murphy’s choice for 2025. The Rangers, nonetheless, will need to have seen one thing to love in his arm. The crew has made a number of additions to the large league bullpen this winter, and so they may not be completed, however there nonetheless might be a few spots accessible for the taking this spring. Murphy received’t be a favourite to make the Opening Day roster, however his means to pitch a number of innings in an outing means he’s an interesting depth choice for the crew to stash at Triple-A.
