Ethan Murray Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Ethan Michael Murray
Born 05/13/2000 in Prince Frederick, MD
Profile Ht.: 5'10" / Wt.: 201 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Duke
Drafted in the 5th round (147th overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021 (signed for $272,500).

View Draft Report

It’s a bit surprising that Murray went under the radar out of high school considering he played on the same team as highly-touted Clemson catcher Adam Hackenberg. Murray put himself squarely on the map after hitting .305/.391/.445 with five home runs and starting all 58 games at shortstop in a 2019 Freshman All-American season. He slumped a bit in the shortened 2020 season before having a strong summer in the Coastal Plain League, and this spring Murray managed a solid .297/.397/.440 slash line. While Murray has exclusively played shortstop with Duke, scouts wonder if he will be an everyday shortstop at the next level. He has solid hands and above-average arm strength for the position, but he’s a below-average runner and some scouts think his defensive actions are just light enough that he’d be better served playing all over the infield and outfield as a super-utility type. Listed at 6 feet, 200 pounds, Murray has below-average power but he swings with intent and takes massive hacks trying to do damage. That has led to some swing and miss in his game and an 18% whiff rate this spring. A team that thinks Murray has a chance to be an everyday shortstop could take a shot at him somewhere in the middle of Day Two.

Top Rankings

Track Record: Murray was a Freshman All-American at Duke in 2019, when he started all 58 games at shortstop and hit .305/.391/.445. He posted similar numbers in 2021, when the Brewers drafted him in the fifth round and signed him for $272,500.

Scouting Report: Murray is a reliable defender at shortstop, where he plays under control with solid hands and an above-average arm. He’s a below-average runner whose range and actions lead some scouts to think he might move off the position, possibly rotating around the infield as a utility type. Murray performed well at Duke because has a good grasp of the strike zone and got on base at a strong clip. He has a big, aggressive swing but has below-average power, so some scouts are skeptical on how his offensive game will translate to the higher levels.

The Future: Murray lacks a big ceiling, but he could develop into a solid utility player. He got a taste of Low-A Carolina after signing and could return there for 2022.

It’s a bit surprising that Murray went under the radar out of high school considering he played on the same team as highly-touted Clemson catcher Adam Hackenberg. Murray put himself squarely on the map after hitting .305/.391/.445 with five home runs and starting all 58 games at shortstop in a 2019 Freshman All-American season. He slumped a bit in the shortened 2020 season before having a strong summer in the Coastal Plain League, and this spring Murray managed a solid .297/.397/.440 slash line. While Murray has exclusively played shortstop with Duke, scouts wonder if he will be an everyday shortstop at the next level. He has solid hands and above-average arm strength for the position, but he’s a below-average runner and some scouts think his defensive actions are just light enough that he’d be better served playing all over the infield and outfield as a super-utility type. Listed at 6 feet, 200 pounds, Murray has below-average power but he swings with intent and takes massive hacks trying to do damage. That has led to some swing and miss in his game and an 18% whiff rate this spring. A team that thinks Murray has a chance to be an everyday shortstop could take a shot at him somewhere in the middle of Day Two.

Track Record: Murray was a Freshman All-American at Duke in 2019, when he started all 58 games at shortstop and hit .305/.391/.445. He posted similar numbers in 2021, when the Brewers drafted him in the fifth round and signed him for $272,500.

Scouting Report: Murray is a reliable defender at shortstop, where he plays under control with solid hands and an above-average arm. He’s a below-average runner whose range and actions lead some scouts to think he might move off the position, possibly rotating around the infield as a utility type. Murray performed well at Duke because has a good grasp of the strike zone and got on base at a strong clip. He has a big, aggressive swing but has below-average power, so some scouts are skeptical on how his offensive game will translate to the higher levels.

The Future: Murray lacks a big ceiling, but he could develop into a solid utility player. He got a taste of Low-A Carolina after signing and could return there for 2022.