San Francisco Giants: Who’s Left for Left Field?
Aug 29, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Los Angeles Angels left fielder David Murph (19) hits a solo home run in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
There’s big time power hitting outfielders left on the market like Yoenis Cespedes, and then there’s David Murphy. There’s the Gold Glove Award-winning outfielders left on the market like Alex Gordon, and then there’s David Murphy. There’s the outfielders with hefty name recognition like Justin Upton, and then there’s David Murphy.
Throughout his 10-year big league career, Murphy has been one of those players who aren’t spectacular at anything, but are solid at just about everything. The addition of Murphy to the Giants’ lineup would add another hitter who just seems to fit with the team’s philosophy as a hitter. Murphy doesn’t hit for a lot of power, averaging just over 10 home runs per season with most of his career spent in a hitter’s park, the Ballpark in Arlington. What he does add, however, is a solid contact approach with gap-to-gap, extra-base pop.
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In 1,110 games, Murphy slashes .274/.333/.432, and has hit over 20 doubles in six seasons. His career strikeout rate of 14.9 percent is a full five points lower than the strikeout rate of 19.9 percent that Giants’ position players posted in 2015. Defensively, Murphy is a good fielder, but strikes fear into no one with his throwing arm. He has spent most of his career as a left fielder, with 651 appearances there, and has considerable time in right field as well, with 321 appearances. Murphy also has 57 games under his belt as a center fielder, so he can fill in there as well if absolutely necessary.
Murphy is 34 years old now, and would not be the Giants’ long-term solution in left field. For the one or two seasons he would man the outfield for the Giants, he would be a solid, yet not particularly amazing player.
Next: Austin Jackson