SALT LAKE CITY — There were about three hours before first pitch at Smith’s Ballpark on Friday night, and Daniel Murphy was holding court in the dugout after batting practice.
Bees catchers Chris Okey and Christian Molfetta listened intently as Murphy spoke to them about the game. A game you can tell just by looking at him he’s played for a long time. Soon, another catcher, Anthony Mulrine joined the conversation from the opposite railing of the dugout.
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Murphy retired after the 2020 season, at age 35, deciding to “quit before I was going to get fired,” he said. The three-time All-Star made the transition to old-timer: He played in a ceremonial game for aging Mets alumni 10 months ago. An event that he thinks might have spurred his comeback. The mere act of putting on a uniform again reminded him of playing the game.
Now here he was across the country, four days into his restart of affiliated baseball. Murphy, one of the great pure hitters of his era, decided his era wasn’t quite over yet.
“I felt like I had a little bit of baseball left,” Murphy told The Athletic. “I don’t know how much. But it was more than zero. And it got to a point where if I didn’t at least try, then it would have been more out of fear than anything else. And I didn’t want that to be the case.”
The Angels were the only team that reached out to Murphy with interest in signing him to a minor-league contract on June 12. He returned to the sport this season for the Long Island Ducks — an indy ball team known for housing players trying a last-gasp comeback.
In 37 games for the Ducks, Murphy posted an .861 OPS, which was right in line with his major-league career OPS of .796. He played 12 seasons for the Mets, Nationals, Cubs and Rockies before his retirement. Murphy finished second in MVP voting in 2016 — one season after hitting a homer in six consecutive postseason games to carry the Mets to the World Series.
To be clear, the Angels’ expectations are set lower. Murphy himself is unsure of what he’s got left. He’s not even certain he wants a major-league call-up. He first wants to make sure he can compete in Triple A.
He’s philosophical and introspective. And he’s trying to look at things in the moment. And maybe that moment might give him a shot at a truly improbable comeback story.
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“He played well in independent ball,” Angels general manager Perry Minasian said. “Somebody that had his career, and still has the passion to play … deserved the opportunity to see what he could do in Triple A.”
Murphy became a father for the fourth time just six months ago. All of his children are under 10 years old. A year before his youngest child was born, Murphy said he got “re-curious” about the baseball swing. He started studying the swings of great hitters like Babe Ruth and Willie Mays. And watching old baseball documentaries.
He’d recovered from knee surgery and said he noticed he could more easily “unfold” his body. So he went from a retired dad whose athletic activity consisted mostly of golf to the mindset of a professional athlete.
He went back to taking batting practice. Murphy sensed that if he chose good balls to swing at, then his swing was in a good place. That didn’t mean hitting them well, per se. That would come later. But it was a process to rediscover his mechanics. And, more importantly, his desire to play.
Taking this plunge at 38, however, came with the realities of his life and his family. His wife, Victoria Ahern, is taking care of their children. Murphy gives his wife a lot of credit. He said they both understand what baseball has given to their family. And he just wasn’t ready to give it up for good.
“I knew what life at home was like, it’s great fun,” Murphy said. “My family’s there. And I don’t have the anxiety of a game and a season. Of aiming at goals that you hope to get, but you may not. … I still experience varying degrees of anxiety. Anytime you aim at something that’s worthwhile, you’re going to get anxious about it. Because you might not get it.”
That anxiety comes from a desire to play well in the moment. And a desire to actually become a major-league-caliber player again. To walk onto a Triple-A baseball field and actually perform. That’s no longer a given.
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When asked if it’s his goal to actually make the Angels roster, he didn’t outright say yes. He spoke like someone speaking in riddles more than reality. But he made a point nonetheless.
“That is the fastest sandlot, I’ve found,” Murphy said in response to that specific question (the sandlot being a baseball field). “There are dangerous creatures there. Have you ever seen an eagle land in slow motion? We’re each honing our positions. A pitcher hones his. A batter hones his.”
“Go watch Jacob deGrom,” he added, mimicking the Cy Young winner’s motion. “When he gets right here, he looks like a great white shark to me.”
The translation of all that is simpler than it sounds. Murphy is less concerned about getting to the major leagues and more concerned about playing well enough to get to the big leagues.
Murphy is 6-for-20 with the Bees. He has a .764 OPS and is playing mostly first base. He did start a game at second. He’s had an everyday role and batted in the middle of the order.
The return of Jared Walsh to Triple A might complicate just how often Murphy is able to play first base. Compounding that hurdle is that the organization is hoping to improve Trey Cabbage’s defensive abilities at the position.
However, if Murphy gets to the Angels, it will be because of his bat. Defense has never been a strong suit. His swing has formed the basis for his career.
“Being where he is now and having accomplished all the things that he’s accomplished, he didn’t get there by pure luck,” Bees manager Keith Johnson said. “The way he goes about his business — the way he prepares, his daily routines — those are some things that can rub off on some of the other guys here.”
Murphy is old. He says it himself. You can see the years on him in the wrinkles. He’s old school now too — having ditched the batting gloves. But his swing is still the same. The ball still comes off his bat the same way.
Minasian made it clear Murphy is a depth signing. And he noncommittally said, “We’ll see what happens.”
Murphy was equally noncommittal when asked if he still had the ability to play major-league baseball. “I don’t know, we’ll see,” he said.
There’s no certainty in this situation. But there’s also something inherent in the dynamic of this signing.
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Murphy wouldn’t have left his family to play in Utah for no reason. And Minasian wouldn’t have offered a contract if were not for that chance — however small — that Murphy goes from old-timer to big leaguer once again.
“If I’m productive here, the big-league club which is in a pennant race and playing great were to think my services would help them,” Murphy said, “that would be awesome.”
(Top photo of Daniel Murphy: Assay Photography / Salt Lake Bees))
