San Francisco Giants catcher Tom Murphy (back) will receive a second epidural injection for his ailing back this week, and is strictly relegated to rehabilitation over the next few weeks. Justice delos Santos of The Mercury News reports. Murphy, 33, has yet to appear in any Cactus League action due to a mid-back disk herniation he suffered during the first week of pitcher and catcher workouts. Sadly, it does not appear to have improved, and he seems all but ruled out for opening day at this time. If so, teammate Sam Huff could begin the season as the team's backup backstop. Huff has hit .286 in 14 Cactus League at-bats.
San Francisco Giants catcher Tom Murphy (back) has started doing light rehab activities. Murphy was dealing with back spasms in camp, but an MRI revealed a more serious issue. The veteran backstop is dealing with a middle-back disk herniation. The fact Murphy is only beginning his rehab process means he probably won't be ready to play by Opening Day. Patrick Bailey is expected to basically play everyday, so Sam Huff might end up making the squad as the backup until Murphy is ready to play.
The San Francisco Giants are saying that catcher Tom Murphy (back) is dealing with a mid-back disc herniation. Murphy will receive an epidural injection and be re-evaluated "in the next few weeks." As a result, it looks like Murphy will not be ready to go as the team's backup catcher for Opening Day in late March. Patrick Bailey is San Fran's unquestioned starting catcher entering the 2025 season, but with Murphy injured again, Sam Huff and Max Stassi will be competing for the backup role for the rest of spring training. The 33-year-old Murphy was only able to suit up in 13 games for the Giants in 2024 after signing a two-year deal last offseason due to a knee injury. When healthy, Murphy could have some sneaky power upside as a second catcher in two-catcher formats, but it's now looking like he could miss a significant portion to open the 2025 season.
San Francisco Giants catcher Tom Murphy (oblique) has a mild oblique strain at spring training, according to manager Bob Melvin. The hope is that Murphy can get into a game in seven to 10 days. Murphy underwent an MRI exam recently after the Giants initially reported the 33-year-old veteran backstop was dealing with back spasms over the weekend. It's a setback for Murphy, who played in just 12 games in 2024 with the Giants due to a sprained MCL in his left knee, but he still has plenty of time to get ready for Opening Day in late March. When Murphy is healthy, he'll be the No. 2 catcher in San Fran and split playing time with Patrick Bailey. As long as Bailey remains healthy in 2025, Murphy should be considered a catching option only in two-catcher leagues for his power with the lumber. Murphy has a career .239 batting average and has never hit more than 18 home runs in his nine MLB seasons.
According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, Giants catcher Tom Murphy (back) is dealing with back spasms and is set to undergo an MRI. Slusser noted the injury is not expected to be serious, but it is concerning as Murphy was only able to play in 13 games last season. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during spring training as he could be in danger of losing the No. 2 role if he continues to miss time. Across his small stint last season, the 33-year-old held a .118/.221/.235 line with one home run. However, during the 2023 campaign, Murphy was quite effective at the plate as he held a .290/.335/.538 line with eight home runs across 47 games. If Murphy were to continue to miss time, Sam Huff could earn the backup job behind Patrick Bailey.
San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said that catcher Tom Murphy (knee) is a full-go for the start of spring training. Murphy signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Giants last offseason but ended up playing in just 13 games in 2024 after spraining his left MCL in early May. The good news is that the 33-year-old veteran backstop didn't require surgery, which is why he's a full-go this spring. Now that he appears to be fully healthy in 2025, Murphy is expected to be the team's primary backup to starter Patrick Bailey. Bailey struggled against lefties last season, so don't be surprised if Murphy sees regular playing time against southpaws in 2025. At best, Murphy will be an option for fantasy managers in two-catcher leagues because of his power. He has never played in more than 97 games in a season since debuting in 2015 with the Colorado Rockies, but he did slug 18 homers in 75 games in 2019 with the Mariners.
Tom Murphy Not Guaranteed To Be Primary Backup Catcher
According to Andrew Baggarly and Grant Brisbee of The Athletic, San Francisco Giants catcher Tom Murphy is not guaranteed to open the season as the backup catcher. While Baggarly and Brisbee noted his contract would suggest he has a firm grasp on that role, the team will instead opt to have an open competition during spring training on who will be Patrick Bailey's backup. Max Stassi and Sam Huff will likely compete alongside Murphy for that position. Last season, Murphy was limited to just 13 contests due to a knee injury. During this small stint, Murphy posted a .117/.211/.235 line. However, during the 2023 season, Murphy posted a strong .290/.335/.538 slash line across 47 contests. He hit 12 doubles and eight home runs. Even if Murphy can bounce back from his injury, he should not be targeted in any formats as he will not see consistent starting opportunities.
San Francisco Giants catcher Tom Murphy (knee) has continued his rehab after feeling a pop in his knee after trying to block a wild pitch back on May 4. Murphy started hitting and running progressions on Saturday, and manager Bob Melvin said the hope is that the team will have Murphy back in September. "It's taken him some time," Melvin said. "He doesn't feel it hitting, he doesn't feel it throwing, it's just getting down in the catcher's position that's he's having some trouble with it. He's pretty frustrated with it, too." The 33-year-old was put on the 10-day injured list on May 5, and an MRI exam showed a Grade 1-2 sprain. He was moved to the 60-day IL on May 15 and received a platelet-rich plasma injection on July 30. Murphy hit .118 with a homer in his first 13 games with the Giants and will likely serve as Patrick Bailey's backup when/if he returns to the big-league roster next month.
San Francisco Giants catcher Tom Murphy (knee) has resumed baseball activity and is beginning to ramp up his baserunning. Murphy felt a pop in his knee after trying to block a wild pitch in the team's loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on May 4 and was put on the 10-day injured list the following day. An MRI exam showed a Grade 1-2 left-knee sprain. Murphy was moved to the 60-day injured list on May 15. He was signed to a two-year, $8.25 million deal in December of 2023 for catching depth in San Francisco. The 33-year-old veteran hit just .118 with a home run in his first 13 games with the Giants before getting injured and will return to a backup role behind Patrick Bailey whenever he comes off the IL. Curt Casali has been serving as the team's No. 2 backstop since Murphy went down.
Tom Murphy Expected To Miss 4-6 Weeks With Knee Injury
San Francisco Giants catcher Tom Murphy (knee) is expected to miss the next four to six weeks with a left knee sprain, according to manager Bob Melvin. Murphy suffered the injury in Saturday's 14-3 loss against the Philadelphia Phillies and now will be out for the next couple of weeks after undergoing an MRI on Sunday. The veteran catcher was hitting just .118 with one home run and two RBI in 13 games this season. With Patrick Bailey (concussion) also on the injured list, look for Blake Sabol to get more opportunities behind the plate.
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