Dec 2020 Report
Evaluator: Geoff Pontes
Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 175 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2019 Draft - Round 5
RuleV: 2022
Physical Description: Average height, lean build, with long levers and room for good physical projection. Low maintenance body type, high waisted and athletic. Shows strong pliability and fluidity in movements.
Delivery & Mechanics: Clean and fluid mechanics but still mastering consistency and repeating motion. Starts on the left hand side of the rubber, begins operation with two quick stutter-steps before triggering his delivery with a moderate leg lift, slight glove raise, and delivers from a lower three quarters slot. Gets good drive from his back leg, dropping heavily over his leg block, with his momentum often swinging his back leg around during finish, falling off to the third base side at times. From the stretch he tones down his operation and simply stretches and fires. Has a tendency to struggle mimicking his release point from the stretch, often sailing his fastball glove side versus right handed hitters. Has continued to improve mechanics since entering the professional ranks.
Fastball: Good movement and average to above-average velocity from the left hand side, will sit 90-93 mph, touching 94-95 mph at his peak. Shows good movement characteristics, showing the ability to create riding life on the fastball when elevated. Made an approach change upon entering pro-ball as the organization asked him to work in the upper quadrants. Control/command woes that detracted from Murphy's profile seemed to fade as he controlled the top of the zone with better results. Struggles to locate gloveside on the inner-half to right handed hitters. Will lose feel for gloveside command from the stretch. Projection to add more velocity in the coming years as he adds good weight. A bump up to 92-94 mph could push this grade a half a measure. Grade: 50
Curveball: Slow bender in the mid-70s, sitting 73-76 mph in early 2019 looks, it shows 1-7 break with some late tail. Doesn't always snap it off with consistency and it will lose shape. His best breakers have deep break and steep vertical dump. Command and control development could push this pitch into average territory in the future. Grade: 45
Slider: A work in progress and point of emphasis for Murphy heading into 2020. How much it has developed over the past 12 months is a bit of a misnomer. In last look it was a slurvy offering in the 81-83 mph range. More horizontal spin axis than his curveball with a closer to 3-9 break, causing it to sweep. Still developing shape and ability to mimic release. The current version of Murphy's slider is a harder, less spin efficient version in the 83-86 mph range. How this pitch plays in game could be a large development heading into 2021. For now it's wait and see. Grade: 45
Changeup: Murphy's strongest pitch. Shows the ability to pronate consistently landing it for swinging strikes versus right-handers as it runs and tumbles to his armside. Thrown with conviction and sold with arm speed, batters have considerable trouble squaring it up and those that do tend to beat the pitch into the ground. Average velocity band of 79-83 mph, showing good separation from the fastball. Not always consistent with release, will lose command of the pitch at times. Grade: 55
Control and Command: A drastic improvement in walk rate was a direct result of change in fastball approach between his collegiate career and early professional days. Due to the movement on his fastball he has a much better ability to land it in the upper quadrants for strikes. This played up the effectiveness of his changeup, a pitch that never showed nearly as well during his time at San Diego. The command and feel for his pair of breaking balls is still coming along. The desire to improve shape and approach tells me the last iteration may not be the current version of Murphy. Showed at least average strike throwing ability out of the draft, but command is still a point of emphasis, particularly from the stretch. Control: 50 | Command: 40
Overall: A four-pitch mix and repeatable mechanics with good velocity separation throughout his arsenal. Murphy's ability to tighten his mechanics will lend itself to increased strike throwing. For now he's stuck in a tweener profile without true feel or identity of a third pitch. Left Handed fastball+changeup profile needs to be complemented by the ability to work in and around the zone. Murphy has only shown the ability to do so during a short sample professionally. His track record as an amateur tells a different tale. Assuming his change in fastball approach has led to greater command of his entire arsenal, it's reasonable to see Murphy as a lower leverage multi-inning relief type. The best possible outcome is a backend starter profile. This idea leans heavily on the development of his new slider - a pitch he's yet to throw in an affiliated game - as a viable third option.
OFP:40
Role:40-Spot Starter/Long Relief
Risk:Moderate
