Patrick Murphy of the Washington Nationals pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park on April 20, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
By Matthew Tallarini
World Baseball Network
Right-handed pitcher Patrick Murphy signed a one-year contract with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, Yahoo Japan News reported on Wednesday.
Murphy elected free agency on November 6 prior to his signing with the Ham Fighters.
Murphy, 28, was born in Chandler, Arizona, and was drafted in the third round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays out of Hamilton High School in his hometown.
Murphy was committed to the University of Oregon, but elected to sign with the Blue Jays for a $500,000 bonus after missing his senior season of high school in 2013 following Tommy John Surgery in 2012.
Murphy played five seasons in the minor leagues with the Blue Jays prior to his big league debut on Sept. 18, 2020.
He has played three seasons in the majors with the Blue Jays from 2020-21 and the Washington Nationals in 2022.
In his three MLB seasons, Murphy has posted a 0-3 record with a 4.76 ERA throwing 39.2 innings in 35 appearances allowing 45 hits, 21 earned runs, three home runs, 20 walks, and 38 strikeouts alongside a 1.639 WHIP.
Last season, Murphy played with Triple-A St. Paul in the Minnesota Twins organization, posting a 6-4 record and a 3.69 ERA in 42 appearances, making six saves. Murphy threw 85.1 innings and allowed 83 hits, 35 earned runs, seven home runs, 50 walks, 97 strikeouts and a 1.559 WHIP.
Murphy has played at the Triple-A level for three seasons from 2021-23, going 10-8 with a 3.87 ERA in 95 appearances out of the bullpen. Murphy has thrown 165 innings, allowing 152 hits, 71 earned runs, 13 home runs, 92 walks, 190 strikeouts, and a 1.479 WHIP.
According to Yahoo Japan News, “His fastball pitches account for 70% of his total pitches, and in addition he assembles his pitches with three breaking pitches including his curveball at 80 mph.”
The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters will open up the 2024 Nippon Professional Baseball regular season against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Es Con Field on March 29.