Donnie Murphy

2013

There was no outlook written for Donnie Murphy.

2012

Murphy won the Marlins' starting third base job out of spring training, mainly by default, but he suffered three different injuries in the first month of the season and eventually landed on the 60-day DL. By the time he returned to action, the only reason he saw any playing time at all was due to Hanley Ramirez's own health woes. He'll probably be back in a bench role, but if he's a regular starter again for any length of time something very bad has happened in Miami.

2009

Murphy struggled with an elbow injury and then struggled at the plate upon his return, making his minor-league deal with the Orioles the most attractive option this winter. The fact that he could surface again in the majors shouldn't entice you at all.

2008

Murphy's bat has come around recently, making him the A's best utility infielder candidate now that Marco Scutaro has been shipped off to Toronto. He has enough pop to be an adequate injury fill-in for whenever Bobby Crosby gets hurt next, so there could be some value potential here as an endgame option in deeper leagues.

2007

Murphy first saw major league action as an overmatched 21-year-old. Just three years later, he had somewhat regressed as a hitter (his earlier forte) while improving as a second baseman under the tutelage of Frank White. The offensive troubles may have been caused by injuries, however. Seeing the upper level full with Mark Grudzielanek, Esteban German, Jeff Keppinger and others, the Royals sent him to Oakland for cash, where he will likely try to rebound offensively in 2007.

2006

Murphy moved up to Double-A Wichita and continued to hit the ball well, finishing with a .313 average and nice power numbers. But the Royals, once again, couldn't contain themselves and called him up to the big leagues for the second straight season. Predictably, he fell on his face and now has a career Major League average of .163 with 30 strikeouts in 39 games. Not ready and not among the likely candidates for a starting role in Kansas City in 2006, Murphy will spend another year honing his craft in the minors and just may be ready for a September call-up by the end of the year.

2005

You can’t fault the Royals too much for awarding Murphy a September trip to the big leagues, but you also can’t fault Murphy for showing very little in that stint. The second baseman developed offensively during his Single-A season in Wilmington, hitting .255 with 31 doubles and 10 home runs. That output garnered him a trip to the Royals and a trip to the Arizona Fall League. The AFL-championship-deciding grand slam highlighted a dismal performance for Murphy, who hit .214 and struck out 25 times in 84 at-bats.