Lefty Chris Murphy logged 47 ⅔ innings out of the Red Sox bullpen as a rookie in 2023.
The 26-year-old, a sixth-round pick in 2019, entered 2024 camp in the mix for an Opening Day roster spot. But Boston shut him down in March and an MRI revealed significant ligament damage in his pitching elbow. He underwent Tommy John surgery in April.
One year later, he’s working his way back and has thrown two bullpen sessions. The first bullpen was 10 pitches. The second was 15 pitches.
“All fastballs,” Murphy said Sunday at JetBlue Park. “Progressing well. On track right now for I think it’s an April 10 live (BP). Beyond that, I don’t know what the plan is from there.”
The goal “definitely” is to return at some point this season.
Asked if the first half might be in play, he replied, “Hope so. Cross my fingers.”
It doesn’t sound like it was necessarily a shock to Murphy when he found out he needed the procedure.
“Over the past few years I felt my arm health declining,” Murphy said. “It turned into one of those, ‘OK, what can come about it?’”
Murphy threw 101 ⅓ innings as a starter for High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland in 2021, then 152 innings for Portland and Triple-A Worcester in 2023.
“In ‘23 for some reason I just couldn’t start anymore,” Murphy said. “That stamina wasn’t there in terms of arm health. We were able to get it in short spurts like we saw in the big leagues. And I was like, ‘OK, well, maybe if I get healthy maybe I’ll do what I was doing starting — walk less guys, throw more strikes.' Who knows if I could be a starter at some point down the line.”
Murphy transitioned to the bullpen during the 2023 and eventually made his MLB debut. He posted a 2.94 ERA (33 ⅔ innings, 11 earned runs) in his first 11 relief outings for Boston but then struggled. He finished with a 4.91 ERA.
“I could only do it for two or three innings. I could sprint instead of run a marathon,” Murphy said.
Murphy and the Red Sox have yet to discuss his role for when he returns.
“I have no clue what the direction is,” Murphy said. “I assumed it’s probably a bulk role, no matter if that’s a starter or reliever. Hopefully multi-innings. I feel like that’s something that’s going on in baseball now — guys that can go two innings, guys that can go three innings. So have some utility."
