Noah Murdock

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #23 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Murdock’s velocity has slowly returned since he had Tommy John surgery his sophomore year at Virginia, but a rash of injuries limited the 6-foot-8 righty to just seven games with High-A Quad Cities in 2021. Minor soreness wiped out his spring training and he then injured his hamstring while pitching in extended spring training. Once healthy, Murdock settled into the rotation at High-A Quad Cities and posted a 3.18 ERA in 22.2 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Murdock creates deception from the excellent extension driven by his long levers. His two-seam fastball has plus velocity, sitting 93-97 mph, and ample horizontal movement. His curveball mirrors the movement of his fastball, keeping hitters off-balance, and is thrown with high spin efficiency. He’ll flash feel for an average changeup, but his fastball and curveball combination is his main point of attack. With unique movement and a deceptive operation, Murdock makes for an uncomfortable at-bat, although it also limits him to below-average control.
  
  The Future: Murdock could be effective in a relief role where his fastball would play up. He should see Double-A in 2022.
  
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #17 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Murdock had Tommy John surgery his sophomore year at Virginia and wasn't at peak form when he came back, posting a 6.30 ERA his redshirt sophomore season. The Royals saw his 6-foot-8 frame and mid-90s fastball and decided he was worthy of a flier in the seventh round. Murdock had a solid pro debut at Rookie-level Burlington and worked out remotely during the 2020 coronavirus shutdown, keeping in close contact with the Royals coaches. He got back on the field at the Royals' fall instructional program in Kansas City.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Murdock's velocity continues to increase the further he moves away from surgery. His fastball has ticked up to sit 96-97 mph and touch 99 mph with deception from his long arms and high arm slot. His main secondary is a 79-82 mph slider, which some observers call a slurve, that now profiles as a future above-average pitch. It has more depth than normal because of his arm slot and release. His 82-85 mph changeup is a future solid-average pitch, and everything he throws has sink and angle from his towering release point. Murdock has worked on repeating his delivery and commanding his secondary pitches and has a chance for average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Murdock will keep starting until he shows he can't. He'll get his first chance at full-season ball in 2021.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #304 prospect in 2019 draft
  Murdock ranked No. 143 on the 2016 BA 500 out of high school, and scouts dreamed on his potential as a 6-foot-7 righthander who touched 94-95 and showed feel to spin a tight breaking ball. With a firm commitment to Virginia, Murdock made it to campus where a strong freshman season was cut short by Tommy John Surgery. Since then Murdock has slowly been re-discovering the stuff he flashed as a high schooler, though he usually sits in the 90-91 range and will occasionally touch 94. Now standing 6-foot-8 and 190 pounds, Murdock is a surprisingly good strike-thrower for his size, which is due in part to his athleticism (he was a standout volleyball player in high school and also played basketball). His performance this spring has been underwhelming (6.33 ERA over 13 starts with 66 strikeouts in 69.2 innings) but scouts are still hoping that as he gets further away from his surgery his stuff will continue to improve.
• Ranked #143 prospect in 2016 draft
  A lanky righthander with long levers, Murdock's slender 6-foot-7, 180-pound frame has evaluators dreaming on his potential. Murdock, a Virginia recruit, has made it clear to teams that he is not interested in signing professionally yet, but some scouts have still gone in to see him. If not for his firm commitment, Murdock would likely be drawing hoards of scouts. He throws from a lower three-quarters arm slot and generates plus life on his fastball, which sits in the upper 80s on most days, but works in the low 90s and touches 94 when Murdock is on. His best secondary offering is a tight-spinning curveball, which shows plus depth and sits at 74-79 with slurvy shape. He throws a changeup in the low 80s, but does not use it often. Murdock has an athletic delivery, with a clean arm action and deep extension towards home plate. His velocity and movement can dissipate later on in outings, and so he'll need to develop more stamina as he matures for the Cavaliers.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Murdock’s velocity has slowly returned since he had Tommy John surgery his sophomore year at Virginia, but a rash of injuries limited the 6-foot-8 righty to just seven games with High-A Quad Cities in 2021. Minor soreness wiped out his spring training and he then injured his hamstring while pitching in extended spring training. Once healthy, Murdock settled into the rotation at High-A Quad Cities and posted a 3.18 ERA in 22.2 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Murdock creates deception from the excellent extension driven by his long levers. His two-seam fastball has plus velocity, sitting 93-97 mph, and ample horizontal movement. His curveball mirrors the movement of his fastball, keeping hitters off-balance, and is thrown with high spin efficiency. He’ll flash feel for an average changeup, but his fastball and curveball combination is his main point of attack. With unique movement and a deceptive operation, Murdock makes for an uncomfortable at-bat, although it also limits him to below-average control.
  
  The Future: Murdock could be effective in a relief role where his fastball would play up. He should see Double-A in 2022.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Murdock had Tommy John surgery his sophomore year at Virginia and wasn't at peak form when he came back, posting a 6.30 ERA his redshirt sophomore season. The Royals saw his 6-foot-8 frame and mid-90s fastball and decided he was worthy of a flier in the seventh round. Murdock had a solid pro debut at Rookie-level Burlington and worked out remotely during the 2020 coronavirus shutdown, keeping in close contact with the Royals coaches. He got back on the field at the Royals' fall instructional program in Kansas City.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Murdock's velocity continues to increase the further he moves away from surgery. His fastball has ticked up to sit 96-97 mph and touch 99 mph with deception from his long arms and high arm slot. His main secondary is a 79-82 mph slider, which some observers call a slurve, that now profiles as a future above-average pitch. It has more depth than normal because of his arm slot and release. His 82-85 mph changeup is a future solid-average pitch, and everything he throws has sink and angle from his towering release point. Murdock has worked on repeating his delivery and commanding his secondary pitches and has a chance for average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Murdock will keep starting until he shows he can't. He'll get his first chance at full-season ball in 2021.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Murdock had Tommy John surgery his sophomore year at Virginia and wasn't at peak form when he came back, posting a 6.30 ERA his redshirt sophomore season. The Royals saw his 6-foot-8 frame and mid-90s fastball and decided he was worthy of a flier in the seventh round. Murdock had a solid pro debut at Rookie-level Burlington and worked out remotely during the 2020 coronavirus shutdown, keeping in close contact with the Royals coaches. He got back on the field at the Royals' fall instructional program in Kansas City.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Murdock's velocity continues to increase the further he moves away from surgery. His fastball has ticked up to sit 96-97 mph and touch 99 mph with deception from his long arms and high arm slot. His main secondary is a 79-82 mph slider, which some observers call a slurve, that now profiles as a future above-average pitch. It has more depth than normal because of his arm slot and release. His 82-85 mph changeup is a future solid-average pitch, and everything he throws has sink and angle from his towering release point. Murdock has worked on repeating his delivery and commanding his secondary pitches and has a chance for average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Murdock will keep starting until he shows he can't. He'll get his first chance at full-season ball in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Murdock had Tommy John surgery his sophomore year at Virginia and wasn't at peak form when he came back, posting a 6.30 ERA his redshirt sophomore season. The Royals saw his 6-foot-8 frame and mid-90s fastball and decided he was worthy of a flier in the seventh round. Murdock had a solid pro debut at Rookie-level Burlington and worked out remotely during the 2020 coronavirus shutdown, keeping in close contact with the Royals coaches. He got back on the field at the Royals' fall instructional program in Kansas City.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Murdock's velocity continues to increase the further he moves away from surgery. His fastball has ticked up to sit 96-97 mph and touch 99 mph with deception from his long arms and high arm slot. His main secondary is a 79-82 mph slider, which some observers call a slurve, that now profiles as a future above-average pitch. It has more depth than normal because of his arm slot and release. His 82-85 mph changeup is a future solid-average pitch, and everything he throws has sink and angle from his towering release point. Murdock has worked on repeating his delivery and commanding his secondary pitches and has a chance for average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Murdock will keep starting until he shows he can't. He'll get his first chance at full-season ball in 2021.