Daniel Murphy

2013

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2012

Murphy, who suffered a "high-grade" MCL tear in his right knee that sidelined him for the year in July 2010, had a brilliant spring training to break camp with the Mets. He opened the year hitting, forcing the Mets to dump Brad Emaus and make him an everyday player. Murphy saw action at first and third, but settled in as the starting second baseman. However, he suffered an MCL tear for the second straight year, this time to his left knee. Murphy still struggles with mental mistakes and a lack of baseball instincts, but he is penciled in as the starting second baseman and occasional leadoff hitter. Don't expect much power, but Murphy should post a solid batting average with lots of doubles and a good on-base percentage if healthy.

2011

Murphy, who failed to meet the hype in 2009, was battling Mike Jacobs to open 2010 as the Mets' first baseman before spraining his right MCL late in camp. Once he returned to action in the minors, Ike Davis was set as the team's first baseman, so Murphy was to be groomed as a utility player. In his first start at second base, Murphy suffered a "high-grade" MCL tear in his right knee that sidelined him for the year. Murphy had a big winter league season playing second base before getting shut down with a slightly strained left hamstring but is expected to be healthy for spring training, where he will contend to open the year as the starter at second.

2010

Murphy, the Mets' Golden Boy entering 2009, got off to a strong start with a home run on Opening Day, but it was mainly downhill from there. His fielding struggles while trying to play left field impacted his confidence at the plate, landing him on the bench. Murphy was shifted to first base with Carlos Delgado out. After bottoming out at .234 in mid-June, Murphy hit .281 to finish at .262 and looked extremely comfortable defensively at first base. His role in 2010 will depend on what the Mets do in free agency; if the team adds a big bat in left, Murphy could remain the starter at first, but the more likely scenario has him platooning with a right-handed bat at the position.

2009

Murphy exploded out of the chute at Double-A Binghamton and made a brief pit stop at Triple-A before being promoted to the Mets in early August. The knock on Murphy in his career has been his defense, as he played third in the minors before seeing time at second and ended up playing left in the majors. His bat looked major league ready in a 131 at-bat trial, so one possible role for him in 2009 is that of a super-utility player similar to Tony Phillips early in his career, enabling the Mets to find a regular position for him over time. Murphy injured his forearm in the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars game and then suffered a Grade 2 strain of the right hamstring, but he is expected to be ready for spring training, where he is slated to platoon in left with Fernando Tatis, though that will depend on what the Mets do in free agency.