Houston Astros right-hander Penn Murfee's (elbow) chances of a return this year went up in smoke after he tossed 19 pitches (12 strikes) in a minor-league rehab game for Single-A Fayetteville on Aug. 15 at Augusta. Murfee was shut down from throwing after that outing but was expected to face hitters in late September. He was claimed off waivers on March 27 from the Atlanta Braves. The last time Murfee pitched in the big leagues was last year with the Seattle Mariners, when he had a sharp 1.29 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 16 strikeouts in just 14 innings. The 30-year-old reliever had a 2.99 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 64 appearances for the Mariners in his rookie season in 2022. Murfee will now try to have a healthy offseason this winter after undergoing surgery on his right elbow.
The Houston Astros pulled relief pitcher Penn Murfee (elbow) off his minor-league rehab assignment late last week. Murfee had Tommy John surgery last July, and while the Astros were hopeful he could contribute to its bullpen depth this season, there were no concrete expectations. He experienced what the team described as "a reoccurrence of right-elbow discomfort" after one outing for Single-A Fayetteville. Murfee is now the fifth Astros pitcher this year to suffer a setback while rehabbing from an arm injury, joining Luis Garcia, Lance McCullers Jr., Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy. The 30-year-old Murfee has been rehabbing from his Tommy John surgery all year and is now unlikely to pitch at all in 2024, even if the Astros make a deep postseason run.
Houston Astros right-hander Penn Murfee (elbow), who threw 19 pitches (12 strikes) while starting for Single-A Fayetteville in a minor-league rehab game last Thursday at Augusta, had a sore arm after the outing and the Astros plan to hold him back a day or two. Murfee allowed four earned runs on three hits and one walk, striking out one in his rehab outing, which was his first outing in a game since having UCL surgery in June of last year. He was acquired off waivers from the Atlanta Braves in late March. It remains to be seen when the 30-year-old will make his next rehab appearance, but the Astros aren't going to rush him back. However, barring another setback with his surgically repaired right arm, Murfee figures to be an option for the big-league bullpen to close out the year or in the postseason if the Astros can hang on and win the American League West yet again.
The Atlanta Braves and right-hander Penn Murfee have agreed to a one-year, non-guaranteed split contract for the 2024 season. The Braves scooped Murfee off waivers from the New York Mets two weeks ago, the second time he was claimed on waivers this offseason after the Mets originally claimed him from the Seattle Mariners. The 29-year-old spent the 2023 season with the Mariners, tossing a 1.29 ERA, albeit alongside a 4.64 SIERA, across 16 appearances before elbow issues ended his season in June. Certainly, Murfee is worth a flyer considering he has worked to a 2.70 ERA across 80 MLB appearances but a UCL procedure in June could cost him significant time in the 2024 campaign.
The Atlanta Braves have claimed relief pitcher Penn Murfee off waivers from the New York Mets. It's the second time this offseason that Murfee has been stopped up on waivers as the Mets claimed the right-hander from the Seattle Mariners just two weeks ago. However, it's unclear when Murfee will be available to his newest club after he underwent a UCL procedure in June that could threaten his entire 2024 campaign depending on his recovery. The late-blooming 29-year-old has been stellar in his brief MLB career as he has tossed a 2.70 ERA across 80 appearances and 83 1/3 innings of work, all with Seattle. However, he battled control issues by way of a sky-high 17.2% BB% in 14 innings last season but also saw an uptick in strikeout and ground-ball rates as well. Reliever Yonny Chirinos was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
The New York Mets claimed right-hander Penn Murfee (elbow) off waivers from the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. Murfee pitched to a nice 1.29 ERA (4.26 FIP) with a 1.07 WHIP, 10 walks and 16 strikeouts in 14 innings over 16 relief appearances for Seattle in his second MLB season in 2023 before having surgery in July to fix the UCL in his right elbow. As a result, the 29-year-old reliever is expected to miss at least the first half of next season, but the Mets are still willing to take a chance on him as bullpen depth for the second half of next year. In 80 major-league appearances (one start) the last two years, Murfee has posted a strong 2.70 ERA (3.29 FIP), 0.97 WHIP, 28 walks and 92 strikeouts in 83 1/3 innings pitched.
Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais said that relief pitcher Penn Murfee (elbow) will have an MRI exam on his right elbow on Monday. It's bad news for Murfee, as he had just come back from an elbow issue that kept him on the injured list for more than five weeks. Depending on the results of his MRI, the 29-year-old could be out for another extended period of time. Murfee has been great so far this year when he's been healthy, as he's sporting a 1.29 ERA (4.27 FIP), 1.07 WHIP, 10 walks and 16 strikeouts in 14 relief innings in his second major-league season. He made his first appearance on Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels since returning from the injured list, but he might be headed right back there.
Seattle Mariners right-hander Penn Murfee (elbow), who was sidelined after experiencing discomfort in his right elbow after a May 3 appearance against the Oakland Athletics, received a platelet-rich plasma injection last week, according to general manager Justin Hollander. The hope is that Murfee could be activated from the injured list on the team's next road trip from June 2-11 against the Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels. Expect the 29-year-old reliever to start a minor-league rehab assignment soon. Before his injury, Murfee had appeared in 15 games out of Seattle's bullpen, allowing five runs (two earned) on five hits (one homer) while walking nine and striking out 15 in 13 innings.
Penn Murfee
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Astros
