Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50

A legitimate two-way prospect, Murphy led all pitchers with 10 strikeouts in four scoreless innings and went 4-for-9 with a home run at the PDP League last July before pulling double duty on the U.S. 18-and-under national team in September. Gatorade's 2022 Illinois state player of the year, he posted a 0.12 ERA with 137 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings while also batting .548 with 18 homers. While he might go as high as the fifth round as a third baseman, he's trending up as a pitcher and his future is definitely on the mound. 

Murphy's fastball velocity increased over the summer, and he's now sitting in the low 90s, with his heater playing as a plus pitch at times because of its shape and riding action. He backs it up with a mid-80s slider with depth, and he also can turn that offering into a tighter cutter. He lands his slider more consistently than his mid-70s curveball, and he's beginning to develop a mid-80s changeup that's a bit firm but features some fade. 

Murphy has advanced feel for multiple pitches and a strong competitive makeup. The Notre Dame recruit is athletic and repeats his three-quarters delivery, allowing him to provide plenty of strikes. The only knock is that he lacks projection at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, which may limit his upside to that of a mid-rotation starter.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50

Murphy was a two-way standout during his high school days in Illinois and could have perhaps gone on to both pitch and hit at Notre Dame. He took a step forward on the mound as a high school senior and while he could have been a Day 2 pick as a third baseman, he was deemed a first-round talent as a pitcher by the Braves, who took him No. 20 overall and signed him for a below-slot $2.56 million. He had a solid first full season, earning a promotion to High-A for three starts at the end of the year. He was off to a very good start back with Rome to start the 2024 season, but he was shut down after just seven starts with an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery.

While he’s just over six-foot, Murphy has plenty of strength and a potential four-pitch mix to work with. His velocity has backed up a little bit, more around 91 mph, but it plays up because of high spin and riding action. Not all evaluators love his ability to spin the ball, but the slider has gotten better, a mid-80s pitch with cutter action and he has a slower mid-70s curve as well. He has some feel for a fading changeup, but it’s behind the other offerings.

Murphy doesn’t offer much projection and is a bit maxed out physically, but his athleticism on the mound helps him repeat his delivery and should allow him to be in and around the zone. He’s still just 20 years old, so there’s plenty of time for him to bounce back as a mid-rotation type of starter, but the first order of business will be for him to rehab his elbow.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50

Gatorade’s 2022 Illinois state Payer of the Year, Murphy could have been taken in the top five rounds as an infielder with power, and he played both ways at events on the summer showcase circuit and for Team USA in international play. He took a step forward on the mound, however, and the Braves took him No. 20 overall and went under slot to sign the high school right-hander for $2.56 million before sending him out for a brief pro debut.

Murphy has the chance to have a legitimate four-pitch mix. His fastball ticked upward when he was a senior, and it sits in the low 90s and is a quality pitch beyond the velocity. The heater's spin and riding action allow it to play as a plus pitch at times. His secondary stuff isn’t as advanced, but he does have a distinct slider and curve, with the former mid-80s breaking ball with cutter-like action a bit ahead of the slower mid-70s curve. The changeup is behind the breaking stuff, but he’s shown some feel for fading the offspeed offering, though it can be a bit firm.

At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, Murphy doesn’t offer a ton of projection. But he’s very athletic on the mound and repeats his delivery well, pointing to a future of strike-throwing and giving him the chance to sit in the middle of a big league rotation.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50

A legitimate two-way prospect, Murphy led all pitchers with 10 strikeouts in four scoreless innings and went 4-for-9 with a home run at the PDP League last July before pulling double duty on the U.S. 18-and-under national team in September. Gatorade's 2022 Illinois state player of the year, he posted a 0.12 ERA with 137 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings while also batting .548 with 18 homers. While he could have gone as high as the fifth round as a third baseman, he trended up as a pitcher and landed in the first round, signing for an under-slot $2.56 million with the Braves as the No. 20 overall pick.

Murphy's fastball velocity increased over the summer, and he's now sitting in the low 90s, with his heater playing as a plus pitch at times because of its shape and riding action. He backs it up with a mid-80s slider with depth, and he also can turn that offering into a tighter cutter. He lands his slider more consistently than his mid-70s curveball, and he's beginning to develop a mid-80s changeup that's a bit firm but features some fade.

Murphy has advanced feel for multiple pitches and a strong competitive makeup. He’s athletic and repeats his three-quarters delivery, allowing him to provide plenty of strikes. The only knock is that he lacks projection at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, which may limit his upside to that of a mid-rotation starter.

Awards

SAL Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
05/19/2024
04/28/2024

SAL Pitcher of the Month

Month	Team
04/2024

CAR Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
08/13/2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	10/28/2024	Rome Emperors activated RHP Owen Murphy from the full-season injured list.
	05/30/2024	Rome Emperors placed RHP Owen Murphy on the full-season injured list.
	03/07/2024	Atlanta Braves Prospects activated RHP Owen Murphy.
	02/27/2024	RHP Owen Murphy assigned to Atlanta Braves.
	02/27/2024	RHP Owen Murphy roster status changed by Atlanta Braves.
	08/22/2023	RHP Owen Murphy assigned to Rome Braves from Augusta GreenJackets.
	08/22/2023	Rome Braves activated RHP Owen Murphy.
	08/23/2022	RHP Owen Murphy and assigned to Augusta GreenJackets from FCL Braves.
	08/12/2022	RHP Owen Murphy assigned to FCL Braves.
	07/30/2022	Atlanta Braves signed RHP Owen Murphy.
	06/11/2022	3B Owen Murphy assigned to College Workout.
	09/23/2021	RHP Owen Murphy and assigned to American.
	07/13/2021	PG National 2 - Gold activated 3B Owen Murphy.