Sea Dogs getting another roster boost in Murphy

Friday, April 1, 2005

By KEVIN THOMAS
Blethen Maine Newspapers

By KEVIN THOMAS

Blethen Maine Newspapers

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The stroke looked effortless. David Murphy leaned in with his slender body and whipped the bat around. He connected and delivered the ball over the center-field fence in a minor league exhibition game Thursday.

Next week, Murphy will be bringing that stroke to Hadlock Field.

Murphy, 23, a Boston Red Sox first-round draft pick in 2003, has made the Portland Sea Dogs roster, Red Sox farm director Ben Cherington confirmed on Thursday.

The presence of Murphy adds another high-profile prospect to Portland, which is expected to have its best team in years. While Murphy is a bonus baby ($1.5 million), his promotion to Portland was not automatic. Murphy had a disappointing 2004, hitting .261 in 73 Class A games and missing nearly half the season with injury.

Coming into spring training, it appeared other outfield prospects had passed Murphy, and he was headed back to Class A. But Murphy's home run Thursday was a sampling of the spring he's had. He followed that homer with a double off the center-field fence.

"He's had a great spring and we feel he deserves a chance to go to Double-A," Cherington said. "We feel like he's prepared to have success there."

The Red Sox were not so sure about Murphy's promotion until he showed the fruits of his adjusted swing. Now he's using his legs for more power.

"It's all finally starting to click," Murphy said. "I really don't feel like, since I've been part of the Red Sox organization, that I've shown what I could do. I believe I've come out this spring and have done a little of that."

Murphy was drafted 17th overall in the first draft under general manager Theo Epstein's watch. Murphy came to Boston after an All-American season at Baylor University.

He began at Boston's short-season team in Lowell, Mass., and batted .346. When he was promoted to Class A the struggles began (.242).

In 2004, Murphy was slumping early in the season, batting .170 in May.

He caught his spike in the batter's box in June and severely pulled a muscle in his left foot. The injury knocked him out for two months.

"Before I got hurt, I just didn't do well," Murphy said. "I worked on (my swing) when I came back from my injury. I actually showed signs here and there that I was making progress.

"But this is the most consistent I've been hitting since college. ... It's almost disappointing that spring doesn't count, because it's been a great one. I just have to carry that into the season."

THE OUTFIELD: Murphy's improvement almost made the Red Sox make a tough decision concerning the Sea Dogs outfield. Portland will carry four outfielders, but have five on the roster. Sheldon Fulse and Mike O'Keefe are both returning for a second season in Portland. Brandon Moss had a monster year in Class A last year and was assured a spot. Chris Durbin also played well in Class A last season, and was having a good spring.

THE 2005 ROSTER is nearly set. Besides O'Keefe, the infield will consist of Jeremy West (first base), Dustin Pedroia (second), Hanley Ramirez (shortstop), Jared Sandberg (third) and Raul Nieves (utility). Another utility infielder, Josh McKinley, is competing for a spot. The No. 1 catcher will be Alberto Concepcion. His back-up has not been announced.

The starting rotation will consist of Jon Papelbon, Jon Lester, Charlie Zink, Kason Gabbard and David Pauley. The relievers are Manny Delcarmen, Marc Deschenes, Conor Brooks, Talley Haines, Phil Devey, Justin Sturge, David Pahucki and Cla Meredith.