This week’s WBN Minor League Player of the Week goes to Montgomery Biscuits second baseman Tanner Murray. The Rays prospect helped send the Biscuits to the Championship Series by batting .500 with 1.250 in their three-game series win over the Biloxi Shuckers. Murray’s best performances came in the two wins, as he homered twice in a 9-2 Game One victory and collected three hits and four RBI in an 8-2 clincher in Game Three.
TANNER MURRAY AGAAAIIIINNNNN!!!!! A TWO-HOMER GAME!!!!!! @Tanner12Murray #ButterUp🧈 pic.twitter.com/ZxT0jyeSCt
— Montgomery Biscuits (@BiscuitBaseball) September 18, 2024
Murray, who is unranked in MLB.com’s Rays top 30 prospects, had a solid but unspectacular season with the Biscuits, posting a .291 average but hitting just seven home runs. It’s clear, however, that he is getting hot at just the right time and will look to lead the Biscuits past the Birmingham Barons in the Southern League Championship Series.
Drew Waters, OF, Omaha Storm Chasers
The 25-year-old outfielder ended his season in memorable fashion by collecting four straight three-hit games and batting .565 on the week. Waters also homered twice to set a career-high with 13 home runs while posting his best batting average since 2019 with a .290 mark. Waters only appeared in 7 games with the Royals after playing in 98 in 2023, but he looks to be setting himself up for more opportunities in 2025.
Terrell Tatum, OF, Birmingham Barons
The White Sox prospect was an eclectic factory all over the field in the Barons series victory over the Tennessee Smokies. At the plate, he reached base at a .643 clip with six hits and three walks in the three games, then tore up the bases with five steals in six opportunities. Tatum kept rolling into the Championship Series opener against the Montgomery Biscuits, reaching base four times on a single and three walks and stealing two more bags. The 25-year-old Tatum, who posted just a .619 OPS in the regular season, has saved his best for last and has his Barons just one game away from a Southern League Championship.
Jon Duplantier, SP, Oklahoma City Baseball Club
The 29-year-old right-hander turned in a career-best performance on Wednesday by firing six hitless innings with 12 strikeouts in a 6-1 victory over the Salt Lake Bees. In six starts with Oklahoma City after being acquired from the Syracuse Mets, Duplantier turned in a solid 3.56 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 30.1 innings.
Austin Bergner, SP, Erie SeaWolves
The Tigers prospect helped get the SeaWolves’ postseason run off on the right foot, as he tossed six scoreless innings and struck out nine in a Game One victory over the Akron RubberDucks. It was another gem in a fantastic season for Bergner, who posted a 2.34 ERA over 10 Double-A starts while striking out 11.5 batters per nine innings. The SeaWovles would end up winning the series and currently hold a 1-0 series lead over the Somerset Patriots in the Eastern League Championship series.
Photo Credit: Tanner Murray #2 of the Montgomery Biscuits reacts after winning the game between the Montgomery Biscuits and the Birmingham Barons at Rickwood Field on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama. The Montgomery Biscuits won 6-5. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
