Date Posted: 8/4/2008

After becoming one of the hottest prospects in the New York Mets farm system, former JU standout Daniel Murphy got his shot in the bigs with his first major league start on Saturday against the Houston Astros and All-Star Roy Oswalt.

Murphy, who played for JU from 2004-06, started in left field for the Mets and collected a base hit and made a leaping catch against the left-field wall in his debut. Mets general manager Omar Minaya is promoting the club's top five prospects after not making any trades before the deadline on July 31 and Murphy has been labeled as the team's "best pure hitter" in the minor leagues.

Drafted by the Mets in the 13th round of the 2006 MLB Draft, Murphy completed his first season with the St. Lucie Mets (A) and earned the Sterling Award (team MVP). This year, he continued his torrid hitting with the Binghamton Mets (AA) and was named to the Eastern League All-Star Game. Two days ago, Murphy was called up to the New Orleans Zephyrs (AAA) and spent one day with the ball club before being called up the majors.

With JU, Murphy was named 2006 A-Sun Player of the Year and garnered first team all-conference honors after finishing second in the A-Sun with a .398 batting average and 55 RBI despite sitting out eight of the Dolphins' final 10 games with a knee injury. He also led the squad with 88 hits, 34 walks, seven sacrifice flies, 27 multi-hit games and a .406 batting average during A-Sun play. In the A-Sun Tournament, he went 2-for-2 with a walk-off game-winning single in two pinch-hit appearances and went 4-for-8 with two doubles and an RBI in two starts at designated hitter in the 2006 Regionals.

Murphy became the highest Dolphin drafted since JU joined the Atlantic Sun Conference in 1998 and was only the second Dolphin (Chad Oliva - Philadelphia Phillies, 18th round, 2002) to be selected prior to the 20th round.

Related Links:
 • Murphy's Leaping Catch
 • Murphy's First Hit