Longtime Phils minor leaguer Jim Murphy likely done with playing career

Jim Murphy in the cage last year while coach Mickey Morandini looks on

Slugging first baseman Jim Murphy has decided that his playing days are over.

Reached for comment on Thursday, the Washington state native asserted his time in the lineup has ended.

"I didn't get a spring training invite from (a major league affiliate)," Murphy shared. "I don't want to play independent ball. I'm done playing."

The Phillies' 17th round draft choice in 2008 out of Washington State University, Murphy notched a .264 average with 98 home runs and 432 RBI in 800 career professional games. Having played at every single level of the Phils' developmental ranks, the six-foot-four 240-pounder was twice an All-Star in his minor league career, in 2011 with Class A Lakewood, where he is a massive fan favorite, and in 2013 with Double-A Reading.

After wrapping up his 2014 season with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Murphy became a free agent.

Murphy has long been viewed as a player that could one day have a future in coaching. Through his career, he'd regularly spend time during off-seasons working at youth clinics and told me a few winters back that he would like to stay in the game after his playing days were over, whether as a coach or by working in the front office for a team.

For now, the 29-year-old is currently working in the home loan industry in Seattle. If the right offer to again don a uniform came his way, it's possible Murphy would return to the game.

Update: After the initial publication of this piece, I heard back from Murphy who did not wish for me to use the word "retired" to describe his status. He declared that, despite stating that he's done playing, he prefers the phrase "un-signed free agent".

Image- Jay Floyd

Comments

2019 Phillies Prospects Countdown: #7 LHP JoJo Romero

JoJo Romero, image- Jay Floyd With a growing crop of very talented pitching prospects in the Phillies organization, left-hander JoJo Romero is certainly among the standouts. The five-foot-11 200-pounder was the Phils’ 4th round draft selection in 2016. That year he helped Yavapai College, the same school that the Phillies drafted Kenny Giles from in 2011, clinch the JuCo World Series, leading the way with an 11-5 record, a 3.64 ERA and a 10.2 K/9 mark. He also tossed a complete game gem to earn the win in their title game. After signing with the Phillies, Romero made his professional debut as a member of the short-season Class A Williamsport Crosscutters. There, he notched a 2-2 record with a 2.56 ERA while striking out 31 and walking 11 in 45 2/3 innings. In 2017, he got off to a terrific start with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws. In 13 starts, Romero tallied a 5-1 record with a 2.11 ERA and a 9.3 K/9 mark and was honored as a South Atlantic League mid-season All-Star. R

McGwire Stays Phony, Despite Admitting Drug Use

Mark McGwire made an effort to publicly come clean today, admitting to the world that he took performance enhancing drugs during his playing career. Steroids and human growth hormones were among the drugs that McGwire admitted to using. MLB Network featured a one on one interview with Bob Costas and McGwire on Monday evening. The broadcast was virtually garbage, thanks to McGwire. Ahead is a list of quotes from McGwire's interview. McGwire repeatedly stated his point of view that there were no dishonorable intentions involved when taking steroids, and that he was merely using them as a means to recover from varying ailments. When asked if he felt like he cheated... "As I look back now...I can see how people would say that. As far as the talent goes and the hand-eye coordination, the ability, the genetics I was given...I don't see it." "I did not take this for any strength purposes." Denial. Read on for similar B.S. He whined about the abuse he'

Diekman a Late Addition to Mesa AFL Roster

On Wednesday, Phillies lefty pitching prospect Jacob Diekman made his Arizona Fall League debut. Diekman, who was drafted in the 30th round of the 2007 amateur draft, was assigned to Mesa late, in order to increase his 2010 innings total, according to Mesa hitting coach Mark Parent, who managed Diekman in Lakewood this past season. Diekman, 23, posted a 2-0 record with 1.90 ERA in 21 games with Class A Lakewood before being promoted to High-A Clearwater on June 24th. In 24 games with the Threshers, Diekman went 0-2 with a 3.66 ERA. Combined, Diekman tossed 55 2/3 innings and held opponents to a .187 batting average against at two levels in 2010. However, after not pitching in an official game since he threw a shutout inning to wrap up the Clearwater season on September 5th, Diekman was unable to record an out as all seven batters he faced reached base, six with hits, one on an error. Diekman was charged with 5 earned runs in the outing. Diekman had spent time at instructional ball f

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog