Tim Murphy
| IP | 326 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.328 |
| WHIP | 1.534 |
| BB/9 | 3.782 |
| SO/9 | 6.46 |
- Full name Timothy P Murphy
- Born 05/07/1987 in Chula Vista, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Rancho Buena Vista
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Drafted in the 3rd round (89th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2008 (signed for $436,000).
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In high school and during his first two years at UCLA, Murphy was a two-way prospect who showed promise as a hard-hitting outfielder. He since has established himself as one of the premier college leftys in the nation. Murphy's build is strong and mature, and while not the lanky and projectable type, he is nonetheless a fine athlete--one who played quarterback and safety in high school and was an 11th-round pick in 2005. Scouts also appreciate Murphy's competitive attitude. He displays the ability to wiggle out of tough jams and survives outings in which his stuff is less than optimal. Since starting the season strongly, Murphy has struggled. When sharp, his fastball ranges from 89-92 mph, but dipped to 87 as the season wore on. He does a decent job of moving that pitch around, and has no reservations about challenging hitters with the four-seamer. Murphy's best offering is his mid-to-high 70s curve, an old-fashioned, over-the-top two-plane drop with 11-to-5 break. Murphy is sound mechanically, though a long back stroke in his arm action makes it difficult for him to maintain a consistent release point. His command suffers as a result. Murphy projects comfortably as either a back-of-the-rotation starter or, thanks to his curveball, as a lefthanded set-up man.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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A physical athlete who played quarterback and safety during his high school football days, Murphy was an 11thround pick by the Angels in 2005 as an outfielder. He played both ways at UCLA, spending his freshman year as an outfielder before taking over as the Bruins' Saturday starter as a sophomore. He was UCLA's ace as a junior in 2008 before he went in the third round and signed for $436,000. In his pro debut, he worked mostly in relief after a heavy workload in the spring. Murphy's frame is mature and lacks projection, but his present stuff is solid. After pitching around 89-92 mph during much of the summer, he saw his fastball spike back up to 90-94 in instructional league. A fierce competitor, Murphy is not afraid to challenge hitters with his fastball and does a decent job spotting the pitch to all four quadrants. His best pitch is an average-to-plus curveball, that arrives in the mid-70s and has sharp two-plane drop. Murphy's funky delivery is high on the front side, evoking Andy Pettitte, and deep in the back, which gives him deception but also affects his release point and his command. The Rangers want to force him to throw his nascent changeup to see if he can develop a three-pitch repertoire. If so, he can be a solid back-end starter, but otherwise he profiles as a dogged reliever who could eat up lefties. Murphy should move quickly through the system, likely starting 2009 in high Class A and potentially reaching Double-A Frisco by midseason.
Minor League Top Prospects
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A two-way prospect who focused solely on playing the outfield as a UCLA freshman, Murphy has established that his future definitely is on the mound. He drew some Andy Pettitte comparisons in the NWL, where he was one of the best relievers around. His competitive nature makes him a perfect fit for a late-inning relief role, though he also may have enough stuff to serve as a starter. Murphy has a 90-92 mph fastball, but his best pitch is a sharp, over-the-top curveball. If he can improve his changeup and his control (he gave up nearly as many walks as hits), he could move into the rotation. His arm action is long in back, which affects his release point and his ability to locate his pitches.
