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Penn Murfee
Penn Murfee
Penn Murfee
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William Penn Murfee (born May 2, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox.

Key Information

Career

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Amateur career

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Murfee attended Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tennessee.[1] Undrafted out of high school in 2013, Murfree attended Vanderbilt University.[2] Murfee redshirted his freshman season, and played college baseball for the Commodores for three seasons.[2] Murfee was an infielder his first two seasons, before converting to pitching for his final year at Vanderbilt.[1] Murfee transferred to Santa Clara University for his redshirt senior season.[2]

Seattle Mariners

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Murfee was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 33rd round, with the 988th overall selection, of the 2018 Major League baseball (MLB) draft.[3]

He spent the 2018 season with the Everett AquaSox, going 3–2 with a 6.55 ERA over 33 innings. In 2019, he split between the Modesto Nuts, Arkansas Travelers, and Tacoma Rainiers, going a combined 6–5 with a 3.57 ERA and 136 strikeouts over 113+1⁄3 innings.[4] Murfee received the Mariners 2019 minor league "60 ft., 6-in Club” Award.[5]

After the season, he played for the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League.[6] And also, on October 10, 2019, he was selected for the United States national baseball team at the 2019 WBSC Premier 12.[7] Murfee did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] In 2021, he split the season between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma, posting a 7-3 record and 4.23 ERA with 97 strikeouts in 78.2 innings pitched across 26 appearances (14 starts). He was assigned to Tacoma to begin the 2022 season.

On April 20, 2022, Murfee was added to the Mariners active roster.[9] Murfee was unused out of the Mariners bullpen in the six days he spent on the active roster, and was removed from the 40-man roster and returned to Triple-A on April 27. Due to his time spent on Seattle’s active roster, but no major league playing time, Murfee became a phantom ballplayer.[10] The following day, Murfee was re-selected to the 40-man and active rosters.[11] He made his MLB debut on April 29, 2022, pitching against the Miami Marlins and recording his first two strikeouts.[12] He made 64 appearances for Seattle in his rookie campaign, pitching to a 4-0 record and 2.99 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 69.1 innings of work.

Murfee pitched in 16 contests for Seattle in 2023, registering a 1.29 ERA with 16 strikeouts across 14.0 innings of work. On June 27, 2023, it was announced that Murfee would undergo season–ending surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament.[13]

Houston Astros

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On October 31, 2023, Murfee was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets.[14] On November 14, Murfee was once again claimed off waivers, this time by the Atlanta Braves.[15] The Braves non-tendered him on November 17,[16] and he re-signed with Atlanta on November 30. He was then placed on release waivers by the Braves on March 25, 2024[17] On March 27, Murfee was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros.[18] The next day, the team placed him on the 15–day injured list, moving him to the 60–day injured list on April 4.[19] Murfee made one rehab appearance for the Single–A Fayetteville Woodpeckers but was shut down after experiencing elbow discomfort.[20]

Chicago White Sox

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On November 4, 2024, Murfee was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox.[21] In 15 appearances for the White Sox, he struggled to an 0-1 record and 7.82 ERA with 13 strikeouts across 12+2⁄3 innings pitched. On May 6, 2025, Murfee was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights.[22] In 22 appearances for Charlotte, he logged a 2-1 record and 4.09 ERA with 16 strikeouts and one save over 22 innings of work. Murfee was released by the White Sox organization on August 1.[23]

References

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Penn Murfee

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from Grokipedia
William Penn Murfee (born May 2, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher who throws right-handed from a distinctive sidearm slot, having appeared in (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners and . A native of , Murfee attended for high school before playing at from 2015 to 2017 as a , converting to pitching during his junior year, and transferring to for his senior season in 2018. The Seattle Mariners selected him in the 33rd round (988th overall) of the 2018 MLB Draft out of Santa Clara, signing him to a minor-league contract shortly thereafter. Murfee made his MLB debut on April 29, 2022, with the Mariners, where he quickly established himself as a reliable reliever in his season, posting a 4–0 record with a 2.99 over 69+1⁄3 in 64 appearances while 76 batters. He contributed to the Mariners' postseason run that year, appearing in the and . In 2023, inflammation limited him to just 14 with a strong 1.29 before he underwent season-ending surgery (UCL reconstruction) in July following multiple stints on the . Murfee missed the entire 2024 season during recovery from the surgery, during which he was non-tendered by the Mariners, claimed off waivers by the and , signed a minor-league deal with the Braves, released, and then claimed by the Astros in March 2024, where he remained on the 60-day and experienced a setback with discomfort during a rehab assignment in August. The claimed Murfee off waivers from the Astros on November 4, 2024, and he signed a one-year, $780,000 for , marking his return to the majors after 18 months sidelined. In , he appeared in 15 games for the , recording a 0–1 record with a 7.82 over 12+2⁄3 and 13 strikeouts before being released on , , becoming a . Over his three MLB seasons, Murfee has compiled a 5–3 record, 3.38 , and 105 strikeouts in 96 across 95 outings, valued for his deceptive delivery despite lacking elite velocity. As of November , he remains unsigned and focused on rebounding from his injury history.

Amateur career

High school

Penn Murfee was born on May 2, 1994, in Nashville, Tennessee. He attended Montgomery Bell Academy, a preparatory school in Nashville, where he participated in baseball as an infielder, primarily at shortstop and third base, while also pitching as a right-handed thrower. During his senior year in 2013, Murfee was named to the First Team All-State squad and helped lead the Big Red baseball team to a runner-up finish in the state tournament. He also lettered in basketball and swimming at the school, reflecting his broad athletic involvement. Scouts evaluated him as a top prospect, ranking him 500th nationally overall and 18th in Tennessee, with a Perfect Game grade of 9 indicating potential for high-level college play. Murfee's early mindset was shaped by a non-traditional path, diverging from his family's swimming legacy—his father had competed at , and his older brother at the —to focus on . He has described himself as a "hippie ," embodying a free-spirited outlook influenced by his Nashville roots and an affinity for , including plans to work on a . This persona extended to his initial interest in music, as he enjoyed playing guitar and drew inspiration from creative pursuits amid his athletic development. Undrafted in the following high school, Murfee committed to to continue his career at the collegiate level.

College

Murfee began his collegiate career at , where he initially played as an after redshirting his freshman year in 2014. As a and , he appeared in 29 games during the 2015 season, batting .256 with 11 RBI, and improved to a .290 average with 12 RBI over 27 games in 2016, starting 15 contests at first base. Overall, he posted a .272 with 23 RBI in 56 games across his infield tenure at Vanderbilt. Facing challenges with injuries and limited playing time as an , Murfee converted to pitching during his redshirt junior season in 2017, appearing in 10 outings with a 0-1 record and a 4.91 over 11 , allowing 10 hits and 6 strikeouts. After graduating from Vanderbilt with one year of eligibility remaining, he transferred to for his redshirt senior year in 2018. At Santa Clara, Murfee fully embraced his role as a right-handed sidearm , making 24 appearances including three starts and recording a 6-3 mark with four saves and a 3.65 across 66.2 , leading the team in wins and while striking out 57 batters. His development as a culminated in his selection by the Seattle Mariners in the 33rd round (988th overall) of the 2018 MLB Draft, after which he signed for a $5,000 bonus.

Professional career

Seattle Mariners

Murfee signed with the Seattle Mariners organization on June 12, 2018, shortly after being selected in the 33rd round of the MLB Draft out of . Assigned initially to the short-season Class A , he made 19 appearances that year, posting a 3-2 record with a 6.55 over 33 innings. In 2019, Murfee advanced through the Mariners' system, beginning the season with the before earning promotions to Double-A and briefly to Triple-A . Across 32 appearances (20 starts) at and Double-A, he achieved a 6-5 record and 3.57 in 113.1 innings, striking out 136 batters while demonstrating improved command and effectiveness as a starter. His progression continued in subsequent seasons, including time with Triple-A Tacoma in 2021 and 2022, where he honed his side-arm delivery—developed during his college years—into a reliable relief role. Murfee earned his first major league call-up and debuted as a reliever for the Mariners on April 29, 2022, against the . In his rookie campaign, he quickly became a key asset, making 64 appearances and compiling a 4-0 record with a 2.99 over 69.1 , while limiting opponents to a .207 and recording 76 strikeouts. Murfee opened the 2023 season strongly for the Mariners, appearing in 16 games with a 1-2 record and an impressive 1.29 ERA across 14 innings before elbow discomfort sidelined him. On June 27, 2023, the team announced he would undergo season-ending surgery to reconstruct his right , performed in July. He spent the remainder of the year on the 60-day , concluding his active tenure with the Mariners.

Houston Astros

Following his non-tender by the Seattle Mariners in November 2023, Murfee was claimed off waivers by the on October 31, 2023, and then by the on November 14, 2023, before signing a one-year contract with on November 30, 2023. On March 27, 2024, the Houston Astros claimed right-handed pitcher Penn Murfee off waivers from the . This acquisition aimed to bolster the Astros' depth, but Murfee's availability was immediately limited by his recovery from surgery performed in July 2023 during his Mariners tenure. He was placed on the 15-day the following day due to right elbow inflammation and transferred to the 60-day on April 4, 2024, sidelining him for the entire season to that point. As part of his rehabilitation efforts, Murfee was optioned to the Astros' affiliate, the , on August 15, 2024, for a minor-league rehab assignment. However, after just one appearance—in which he allowed 4 earned runs on 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 1—he experienced renewed elbow soreness and was removed from the assignment on August 22, 2024, halting any further progress toward a major-league return. This setback underscored the ongoing challenges of his post-surgery recovery, preventing him from making any MLB appearances during his time with . Murfee's stint with the Astros concluded in late 2024 when the team designated him for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot, leading to his placement on outright waivers. He was claimed off those waivers by the on November 4, 2024, marking the end of his brief and injury-marred affiliation with .

Chicago White Sox

On November 4, 2024, the claimed Penn Murfee off waivers from the Astros and added him to their 40-man roster. This acquisition came after Murfee had spent the entire 2024 season on the recovering from surgery performed in 2023, marking his return to the majors following a prolonged rehabilitation process marred by prior issues. Entering the 2025 season, Murfee was viewed as a candidate for a high-leverage role, leveraging his pre-injury performance as a reliable middle reliever with the Mariners. However, his tenure with the White Sox proved challenging; in 15 relief appearances, he posted a 0-1 record with a 7.82 over 12.2 innings, allowing 19 hits, 3 home runs, and 5 walks while striking out 13 batters. These struggles, including a high of 1.89, limited his effectiveness and prevented him from securing a consistent spot in the . On August 3, 2025, the White Sox designated Murfee for assignment and subsequently released him, clearing a spot on the 40-man roster and making him a . Through the end of the 2025 season, Murfee's overall MLB career statistics stood at 5 wins, 3 losses, a 3.38 , and 105 strikeouts across 95 appearances, primarily in relief.

References

  1. https://www.mlb.com/player/penn-murfee-682171
  2. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/murfepe01.shtml
  3. https://santaclarabroncos.com/sports/baseball/roster/penn-murfee/1748
  4. https://vucommodores.com/roster/penn-murfee/
  5. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=murfee000pen
  6. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/06/penn-murfee-to-undergo-season-ending-ucl-surgery.html
  7. https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/player/_/id/26414/penn-murfee
  8. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/white-sox-claim-penn-murfee.html
  9. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/08/white-sox-release-noah-syndergaard-penn-murfee.html
  10. https://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=227691
  11. https://www.montgomerybell.edu/news-detail?pk=1189034
  12. https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2019/12/18/20996729/penn-murfee-the-mariners-self-described-hippie-cowboy-pitcher
  13. https://www.milb.com/player/penn-murfee-682171
  14. https://marinersblog.mlblogs.com/mariners-announce-2019-minor-league-award-winners-34d5d82620d0
  15. https://nypost.com/2023/10/31/sports/mets-claim-reliever-penn-murfee-off-waivers-from-mariners/
  16. https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-astros-claim-rhp-penn-murfee-off-waivers
  17. https://www.mlb.com/news/non-tendered-mlb-free-agents-2023-24
  18. https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/penn-murfee-player
  19. https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/astros-penn-murfee-lands-on-15-day-il/
  20. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/penn-murfee-off-rehab-assignment-19717734.php
  21. https://www.southsidesox.com/2024/11/4/24288271/chicago-white-sox-sign-penn-murfee-cut-loose-jimmy-lambert-and-matt-foster-free-agent
  22. https://www.rotowire.com/baseball/player/penn-murfee-17104
  23. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/pitching.php?y=2025&t=CHA
  24. https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/penn-murfee-player-stats
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