Atlanta Braves pitcher Owen Murphy’s introduction to Major League Baseball was a quick one. After the 2022 Riverside Brookfield High School graduate was called up for the first time Monday, he made his debut that night in the 10th inning of the Braves’ 7-6 loss to the visiting New York Mets. Wearing No. 73, the right-handed Murphy took the loss after entering with the game tied 5-5.
Murphy got the first two outs with the ghost runner advancing to third base and then hit a batter. He had an 0-and-2 count before the Mets’ Luis Torrens delivered a two-run double. Murphy ended the inning with his first major league strikeout against Brett Baty. The Braves’ Michael Harris II had a run-scoring double in the bottom of the 10th.
Previously this season, Murphy made 11 starts for Class AAA Gwinnett, posting a 3.88 earned-run average in 60 1/3 innings with 65 strikeouts and 25 walks. In late April, Murphy was promoted from AA Columbus following five starts with a 6.10 ERA in 20 2/3 innings.
Murphy was taken by the Braves with the No. 20 overall selection in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft. His 2024 season ended in May when he had to undergo Tommy John elbow surgery.
MLB Pipeline rates Murphy as the Braves’ No. 6 prospect but projected him not to make his MLB debut until 2028.
The Braves (52-37) lead the National League East and have the third-best winning percentage in the NL, but their pitching staff continues to be decimated by injuries. Murphy fills the active spot of pitcher Martin Perez, who went on the Injured List after being hit in the arm by a batted ball Sunday.
At RBHS, Murphy was named the Gatorade Illinois Player of the Year as a senior after a 9-0 pitching record with a 0.12 ERA and 157 strikeouts in 58.1 innings with four no hitters. Murphy also batted a single-season, school-record .578 with 18 home runs and 75 RBIs. Murphy holds RBHS career records for batting average (.470), home runs (30) and RBIs (130).
Bob Skolnik contributed to this report