Eastern League Loses "It's Best Hitting Prospect" Daniel Murphy
I know, I know, you guys get tired of the Mets post, but there is a lot of information being floated out there about Daniel Murphy these days and it seems the organization is incredibly high on him. First of all the kids a 6'4 3B who recognized last year that he wouldn't be able to continue to play 3B, he actually threw the idea out of him playing 2B and he has now played there multiple times this year. The kid can absolutely rake, and nobody seems to question that. Here are some quotes from MetsMinorLeagueBlog;
Murphy hit .308/.374/.496 with 13 HR, 26 2B, and 67 RBI in 357 AB. Not to mention he stole 14 SB.
I don’t like to call the stuff, but there’s a pretty good chance that he might play in the big leagues this year.
B-Mets Hitting Coach Luis Natera on Dan Murphy
He’s got a lot of ability and he wanted to get better. We’ve spent a lot of time together. Three days ago, I saw Murphy a little down, and I asked him, ‘do you have any doubt that you’re the best hitter in this league?’ He just lifted his eyes, and I told him, ‘you can’t have any doubt.’ Maybe he’s not leading the league in hitting, but to me, he’s the best hitter in the league right now.
Before, to hit to right field, he had to cheat. Now he just reacts. He learned how to pull his hands in through it, and now he pulls the ball by reaction. … before, [to get to] that pitch he was cheating and he would hook it…
To me he’s going to be a great hitter at the major league level.
Murphy:
In 2008, the Mets began moving him with moving him around the diamond, finding him time at leftfield and first base before second. Murphy enjoys the experience, “I just come in every day and it’s a surprise where I play. It’s exciting to tell you the truth. The fact that I get to play multiple positions – I think the organization is showing a lot of faith in me.”
Fact:
Just to put into perspective the years that these guys are having in AA ball. (Evans still has enough AB's to qualify) In the entire Eastern League there are only four players under the age of 24 who have a batting average over .300, and an OPS over .800. Carp (22 years old), Murphy (23), Evans (22) and Lou Merson from the Phillies system, who is 22 as well. In the other two AA leagues, the Texas League and the Southern League, there are a grand total of 5 in each league who are accomplishing the same thing. Many of those are prize prospects like Dexter Fowler from the Rockies, or Mat Gamel, and Alcides Escobar from the Brewers farm.
Me:
Basically, I believe Murphy is a average prospect playing 1B/3B/OF, but at 2B I believe he's an above average prospect. The kid can rake, there is no questioning that, and I think he'll put in enough work to become an average defensive 2B. I could see him 15 HR and stealing 20 bases in the big leagues and at second base that would be amazing. Poor mans Chase Utley
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16 comments
Comments
Response
Everybody = you, the guy’s hitting coach, and whoever runs MetsMinorLeagueBlog?
Not to say he’s a bad prospect or even not a good one.
by mrkupe on Aug 1, 2008 1:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Still trying to figure out...
the “losing” part. Did he get promoted or something? If the E.L. is losing their best hitting prospect, it might be nice to say how.
"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile
by Boxkutter on Aug 1, 2008 1:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He got promoted to AAA, yeah.
The best EL hitting prospect is probably mainly hype, but he is a very nice prospect capable of being a good BA, 15 HR, 15 SB type 2B in the Majors. Think Kelly Johnson.
by adropofvenom on Aug 1, 2008 2:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good comp
but I’d expect more of a this year Kelly with a higher BA rather than last year Kelly..
by METSMETSMETS on Aug 1, 2008 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Poor man's Chase Utley?
Hello, I’m the homeless guy down the street’s James Joyce
www.loftylantern.com
by OldProspects on Aug 1, 2008 7:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Every 2B is a poor man's Utley
Because Utley is really stone-cold phenomenal. He’s the best player on his team even though two infield-mates have won MVPs. He’s one of the most under-recognized superstars of the last few years. And I say that as a Mets fan.
Murphy looks like a nice player, though. I basically hope that between him and Havens, one of them reaches above-average regular status.
by aap212 on Aug 1, 2008 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Murphy
Kinda reminds me of Rich Aurilia (and Aurilia had a nice prime)
by mtk52983 on Aug 1, 2008 7:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
As Long As No One Detects Them....
It’s not a Roid Prime, right? :)
by Lunkwill Fook on Aug 1, 2008 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is Travis Snider going somewhere?
Not to mention Austin Jackson, Fernando Martinez, Greg Golson, Lou Marson, Luke Hughes and Trevor Crowe. So it may even be debatable whether Murphy even makes the top 10 hitting prospects in that league (though he would for me).
He is one of the more polished bats, though, even in that group. You might even see him in the majors this year. I’m not too sold on him yet at 2B, but if he can really handle it, yeah it ups his status. I think he’d be a better fit at 3B, but not having a need there, the Mets will use him as a good LH bench bat, possibly replacing Marlon Anderson in that role.
by acerimusdux on Aug 2, 2008 1:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Points
Points to ace for predicting the immediate future.
by Lunkwill Fook on Aug 2, 2008 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Serious post
Those are good names there. If I had to rank Murphy in that immediate group, I’d put Jackson, Martinez, Hughes, and Crowe above Murphy, Golson below, and Marson even if Murphy plays 2nd. If Murphy plays 3rd, Marson’s positional scarcity wins.
by Lunkwill Fook on Aug 2, 2008 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Promoted to MLB
Murphy was promoted to the majors tonight, ending his illustrious 1-game AAA career. He went 1-4 with a walk.
by jeck on Aug 2, 2008 2:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
confirmation
From Rotoworld:
The Mets are set to call up infielder Dan Murphy to replace Marlon Anderson, who is going on the DL with a hamstring injury.
Murphy, 23, has hit .315/.379/.493 in a season spent mostly at Double-A. His left-handed bat might make him a useful bench player someday, and since the Mets are lacking alternatives, they might as well see if he can contribute now.
by benzalman on Aug 2, 2008 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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