Bill Murphy
Encyclopedia
William R.W. "Bill" Murphy (born May 9, 1981 in Anaheim, California
) is a left-handed
former Major League Baseball
pitcher
currently playing for the Chiba Lotte Marines
in Japan.
Murphy attended Arlington High School
in Riverside, California
. After graduating from high school, he attended CSU Northridge
for three years. Before attending college, he was drafted by the San Francisco Giants
in the 24th round (738th overall) in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
, but did not sign with them. He was drafted again by the Oakland Athletics
in the third round (98th overall) in the 2002 draft
.
He spent two seasons in the Athletics organization. On December 23, 2003, he was named as the player to be named later that had sent Mark Redman
to the Athletics and Mike Neu
to the Florida Marlins
in a trade on December 16, 2003.
Murphy began the 2004 season with the Carolina Mudcats
, the Marlins Double-A affiliate. On July 30, 2004, Murphy was traded along with Hee-Seop Choi
and Brad Penny
to the Los Angeles Dodgers
for Paul Lo Duca
, Juan Encarnacion
, and Guillermo Mota
. The next day, on July 31, 2004, he was traded once again, this time to the Arizona Diamondbacks along with Koyie Hill
and Reggie Abercrombie
for Steve Finley
and Brent Mayne
. He finished the season with the Double-A El Paso Diablos
.
Murphy spent the whole 2005 season with the Triple-A Tucson Sidewinders
but performed poorly as he had a 5.65 ERA
in 23 games (21 starts). He began the 2006 season back in Double-A with the Tennessee Smokies
. He was later promoted back up to Triple-A.
In 2007, Murphy once again began the year in Triple-A. He started nine games in which he went 2–2 with a 4.05 ERA. He was mainly a relief pitcher however as he pitched 45 games out of the bullpen. He went 1–1 with a 3.35 ERA with 1 save out of the bullpen. His good performance earned him a September 1 call-up by the big league club.
In 10 games for the Diamondbacks in 2007, he had a 5.68 ERA.
In , during spring training, the Diamondbacks designated Murphy for assignment and placed him on waivers. The Toronto Blue Jays
claimed him off waivers on March 17.
Murphy did not make the 25-man Toronto 2009 roster out of spring training, and was assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas 51s
. On April 14, 2009, Murphy was called up to the Toronto Blue Jays to replace the injured Jesse Litsch
. Murphy made his Toronto debut on April 15 in relief, in a win over the Minnesota Twins
. On November 3, 2009 he was designated for assignment to make room for Jarrett Hoffpauir
.
On November 15, 2009, it was announced that Murphy would take a tryout for the Japanese team Chiba Lotte Marines
along with 3 other players, including Chris Richard and Bryan Corey
.
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
) is a left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
currently playing for the Chiba Lotte Marines
Chiba Lotte Marines
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by the Lotte conglomerate.-History:...
in Japan.
Murphy attended Arlington High School
Arlington High School (Riverside, California)
Arlington High School is a public high school in Riverside, California, United States.-History:Founded in 1973, Arlington is one of 5 comprehensive high schools in Riverside Unified School District...
in Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
. After graduating from high school, he attended CSU Northridge
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a public university in Northridge, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States....
for three years. Before attending college, he was drafted by the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in the 24th round (738th overall) in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
1999 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1999...
, but did not sign with them. He was drafted again by the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
in the third round (98th overall) in the 2002 draft
2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
.
He spent two seasons in the Athletics organization. On December 23, 2003, he was named as the player to be named later that had sent Mark Redman
Mark Redman
Mark Allen Redman is a retired Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher.-Early career:...
to the Athletics and Mike Neu
Mike Neu (baseball)
Michael David Neu is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics and Florida Marlins....
to the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
in a trade on December 16, 2003.
Murphy began the 2004 season with the Carolina Mudcats
Carolina Mudcats
The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Carolina League, are the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians major-league club beginning in 2012.-History:...
, the Marlins Double-A affiliate. On July 30, 2004, Murphy was traded along with Hee-Seop Choi
Hee-Seop Choi
Hee-Seop Choi is a professional baseball player who has played in the MLB for the Chicago Cubs, Florida Marlins, and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is a first baseman who bats and throws left-handed. Choi currently plays for the Kia Tigers in the South Korean pro baseball league.-Amateur career:Choi...
and Brad Penny
Brad Penny
Bradley Wayne "Brad" Penny is a Major League starting pitcher. Penny has spent portions of his career with the Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers....
to the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
for Paul Lo Duca
Paul Lo Duca
Paul Anthony Lo Duca is a television personality and a former Major League Baseball catcher. Previously, Lo Duca played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Florida Marlins , New York Mets , and Washington Nationals...
, Juan Encarnacion
Juan Encarnación
Juan De Dios Encarnación is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. His last major league team was the St. Louis Cardinals...
, and Guillermo Mota
Guillermo Mota
Guillermo Reynoso Mota is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He stands tall and weighs . He throws and bats right-handed. Mota has played for the Montreal Expos, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Florida Marlins, the Cleveland Indians, the New York Mets, the Milwaukee Brewers and the San...
. The next day, on July 31, 2004, he was traded once again, this time to the Arizona Diamondbacks along with Koyie Hill
Koyie Hill
Koyie Dolan Hill is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Chicago Cubs.-Baseball career:While attending Wichita State University, Hill compiled a .355 batting average and 186 RBI primarily as a third baseman....
and Reggie Abercrombie
Reggie Abercrombie
Reginald Damascus Abercrombie is a former Major League Baseball outfielder now playing for the Sioux Falls Fighting Pheasants of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.-Professional career:...
for Steve Finley
Steve Finley
Steven Allen Finley is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early life:Finley, who grew up in Paducah, Kentucky, attended Paducah Tilghman High School and Southern Illinois University, where he earned a degree in physiology and played for the baseball team from 1984–87.-College, Team USA,...
and Brent Mayne
Brent Mayne
Brent Danem Mayne is a former Major League Baseball catcher who has played with the Kansas City Royals , New York Mets , Oakland Athletics , San Francisco Giants , Colorado Rockies , Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers...
. He finished the season with the Double-A El Paso Diablos
El Paso Diablos
The El Paso Diablos are a professional baseball team based in El Paso, Texas, in the United States. The Diablos are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 2005 season to the...
.
Murphy spent the whole 2005 season with the Triple-A Tucson Sidewinders
Tucson Sidewinders
The Tucson Sidewinders were a minor league baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona. The team, which played in the Pacific Coast League, was the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks major-league club....
but performed poorly as he had a 5.65 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 23 games (21 starts). He began the 2006 season back in Double-A with the Tennessee Smokies
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies are a Minor League Baseball team based in the Knoxville, Tennessee metropolitan area. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball as of the 2011 season...
. He was later promoted back up to Triple-A.
In 2007, Murphy once again began the year in Triple-A. He started nine games in which he went 2–2 with a 4.05 ERA. He was mainly a relief pitcher however as he pitched 45 games out of the bullpen. He went 1–1 with a 3.35 ERA with 1 save out of the bullpen. His good performance earned him a September 1 call-up by the big league club.
In 10 games for the Diamondbacks in 2007, he had a 5.68 ERA.
In , during spring training, the Diamondbacks designated Murphy for assignment and placed him on waivers. The Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
claimed him off waivers on March 17.
Murphy did not make the 25-man Toronto 2009 roster out of spring training, and was assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas 51s
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
. On April 14, 2009, Murphy was called up to the Toronto Blue Jays to replace the injured Jesse Litsch
Jesse Litsch
Jesse Allen Litsch is an American pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. He is tall and weighs 225 pounds....
. Murphy made his Toronto debut on April 15 in relief, in a win over the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. On November 3, 2009 he was designated for assignment to make room for Jarrett Hoffpauir
Jarrett Hoffpauir
Jarrett Lee Hoffpauir is a second baseman for the San Diego Padres. He is a distant cousin to Micah Hoffpauir, who is also a baseball player.Hoffpauir was drafted by the St...
.
On November 15, 2009, it was announced that Murphy would take a tryout for the Japanese team Chiba Lotte Marines
Chiba Lotte Marines
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by the Lotte conglomerate.-History:...
along with 3 other players, including Chris Richard and Bryan Corey
Bryan Corey
Bryan Scott Corey is a Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He is currently a free agent.-Biography:...
.