Donnie Murphy

Donnie Murphy
Murphy with the New Orleans Zephyrs in 2012
Infielder
Born: (1983-03-10) March 10, 1983 (age 41)
Lakewood, California, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 18, 2004, for the Kansas City Royals
Last MLB appearance
July 4, 2014, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Batting average.212
Home runs33
Runs batted in119
Teams

Donald Rex Murphy (born March 10, 1983) is an American former professional baseball infielder. He attended Riverside Polytechnic High School and Orange Coast Community College in Costa Mesa, California,[1] and was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 5th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft.[2]

He is currently the manager for the Class A-Advanced Dunedin Blue Jays, a position he was named to in 2020 after spending several years as a hitting coach in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.[3]

Career

Kansas City Royals

In 2004 and 2005, he appeared in 39 games for the Royals, hitting .163 with one home run and eleven RBI. He was acquired by the Oakland Athletics in exchange for cash considerations on November 28, 2006.[4]

Oakland Athletics

Murphy batting for the Oakland Athletics in 2007

He began the 2007 season at Sacramento, the A's Pacific Coast League Triple-A affiliate. He hit .342 for the River Cats and was recalled to Oakland June 8 when Milton Bradley was placed on the disabled list.[5]

Baltimore Orioles

Murphy was signed by the Baltimore Orioles to a minor league deal with a spring training invitation for the 2009 season.[6][7]

Florida/Miami Marlins

Murphy with the Florida Marlins in 2010

On December 14, 2009, Murphy signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins with an invitation to spring training.[8] He was called up on July 3, 2010.[9] He hit a walk-off home run to defeat the Colorado Rockies on July 19, 2010.[10] It was the first walk-off home run by the Marlins that season. Continuing to play with the Marlins in a utility role, Murphy's season was cut short on September 1 when he dislocated his right wrist on a tough catch in the fourth inning.[11] He had surgery the following day, ending one of his most successful seasons.[12][13]

Murphy became a free agent on October 15 after refusing a minor league assignment. He was re-signed to a minor league contract on October 18.[14]

In 2012, Murphy ended up on the 25-man roster for the Marlins going into opening day. On June 10, 2012, the Marlins designated Murphy for assignment to make room for Gaby Sánchez. He passed waivers and was sent to the New Orleans Zephyrs. On July 27, he was recalled by the Marlins after a trade sent Hanley Ramírez and Randy Choate to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Nathan Eovaldi and Scott McGough. On August 3, he pulled his left hamstring against the Washington Nationals. Five days later, he was placed on the 15-day DL. On August 19, he and Emilio Bonifacio were both reinstated. Murphy ended the year with three homers, six doubles, two triples, 12 RBIs, nine walks and one stolen base while batting .216 in 116 at-bats.

On October 18, 2012, Murphy was outrighted off the Marlins' 40-man roster and elected free agency.

Milwaukee Brewers

On December 17, 2012, Murphy signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.[15] He was released on March 27, 2013.[16]

Chicago Cubs

In April 2013, Murphy signed with the Chicago Cubs.[17] Murphy hit a career-high 11 home runs in 2013 with Chicago, leading to him signing a one-year deal worth $825,000 with the Cubs after the season.[18] Murphy also underwent surgery for a torn meniscus he had originally injured in 2009.[19]

Texas Rangers

On March 26, 2014, Murphy was claimed off waivers from the Chicago Cubs by the Texas Rangers.[20] He was designated for assignment on July 7. With the Rangers, he hit .196, with 4 homers, 14 RBIs, and 11 walks.[21] He was released on July 9.[22]

Cincinnati Reds

On July 18, Murphy was signed by the Cincinnati Reds and assigned to AAA Louisville. He was released in August.[22]

Atlanta Braves

Murphy signed with Atlanta Braves on August 16, 2014.[23]

Second stint with the Brewers

Murphy re-signed with the Milwaukee Brewers for the 2015 season and was assigned to AAA Colorado Springs Sky Sox. On August 2, 2015, Murphy was released by the Brewers.

Coaching

On February 23, 2016, the Toronto Blue Jays hired Murphy to be their new hitting coach for the Class-A Lansing Lugnuts for the 2016 season.[24]

Murphy became the hitting coach for the Advanced-A Dunedin Blue Jays on January 10, 2018.[25]

After spending the 2019 season as the hitting coach for the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Murphy was named the manager for Dunedin on January 31, 2020.[3]

On March 9, 2021, Murphy was named the manager of the Vancouver Canadians for the 2021 season.[26]

Murphy was named as the bench coach for the Buffalo Bisons the Triple-A affiliate for the 2024 season.

References

  1. ^ 2007 Oakland Athletics Media Guide (PDF). MLB Advanced Media. pp. pgs. 145–147. Retrieved June 13, 2007.
  2. ^ "Donnie Murphy Statistics – Baseball-Reference.com – Transactions". Sports Reference, Inc. Retrieved June 13, 2007.
  3. ^ a b "Dunedin Blue Jays Announce 2020 Coaching Staff". Dunedin Blue Jays. January 31, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  4. ^ Quinn, Ryan (November 28, 2006). "A's acquire Murphy from Royals". MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2007.
  5. ^ Urban, Mychael (June 9, 2007). "Notes: Calf strain puts Bradley on DL". MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2007.
  6. ^ Zrebiec, Jeff (November 14, 2008). "Orioles agree on minor league deal with former A's utility man Murphy". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 15, 2008.
  7. ^ Gonzalez, Alden (November 17, 2008). "O's ink Hennessey, Murphy to deals". MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  8. ^ Rodriguez, Juan C. (December 14, 2009). "Florida Marlins Add Four On Minor League Deals". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  9. ^ "Marlins call up INF Donnie Murphy from minors". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 3, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  10. ^ "Jimenez roughed up again as Rockies falter in Marlins' walk-off win". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 19, 2010. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  11. ^ Rodriguez, Juan C. (September 1, 2010). "Murphy exits in fourth with dislocated wrist". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 30, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  12. ^ Rodriguez, Juan (September 2, 2010). "Donnie Murphy has season-ending wrist surgery". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on September 3, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  13. ^ Frisaro, Joe (May 2, 2011). "Marlins place Murphy on DL, recall Petersen". MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  14. ^ Polishuk, Mark (October 18, 2010). "Marlins Re-Sign Donnie Murphy". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  15. ^ McCalvy, Adam (December 17, 2012). "Brewers ink Murphy, continue relief search". MLB.com. Archived from the original on December 30, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  16. ^ "Gallardo strong for 6 1-3 innings, Brewers top KC". Associated Press. March 27, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  17. ^ Perrotto, John (April 3, 2013). "Pirates 3, Cubs 0". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  18. ^ Muskat, Carrie (December 3, 2013). "Cubs retain nine with signings, contract tenders". MLB.com. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  19. ^ Muskat, Carrie (February 11, 2014). "Murphy feels Cubs set for bounceback season". MLB.com. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  20. ^ Durrett, Richard; Rogers, Jesse (March 26, 2014). "Rangers acquire Donnie Murphy". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  21. ^ "Rangers demote slumping Choice in flurry of moves". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 7, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  22. ^ a b Baer, Bill (August 16, 2014). "Braves sign Donnie Murphy to a minor league deal". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  23. ^ Vivlamore, Chris (August 16, 2014). "Braves sign Donnie Murphy". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  24. ^ "Blue Jays just not talking". The Hamilton Spectator. February 23, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  25. ^ Davidi, Shi (January 10, 2018). "Schneider promoted to double-A as Blue Jays finalize MiLB staffs". Sportsnet. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  26. ^ "Toronto Blue Jays name Donnie Murphy manager of the Vancouver Canadians".
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