Top 10 Profiles of 2021: No. 2 Owen Murphy
December 31, 2021
Owen Murphy enters the countdown at No. 2 for the most viewed profiles of 2021. The Notre Dame commit had one of the most dominant years in recent memory. Currently at Riverside-Brookfield, Murphy was named to the PBR First Team All-State roster after compiling a 6-1 record on the mound with 42.1 innings pitched, 97 strikeouts, 5 walks and a 0.33 ERA. Murphy also turned in one of the more impressive stat lines offensively with a limited number of at-bats, slugging to a .453 batting average with nine home runs, 34 hits and nine stolen bases in 23 games. This level of dominance earned Murphy the title of 2021 Illinois Player of the Year. Murphy didn't slow down at all after his dominant spring, pickup up right where he left off in the summer and racking up plenty of national attention, including a mention in Shooter Hunt's Summer Favorites story.
It is extremely rare to see someone dominate on both sides of the ball like Owen Murphy does. On the mound, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound right-hander possesses an electric arm, running his fastball up to 94 mph (T2515 rpm) and showing ride through the zone. The separator in Murphy's repertoire is his ability to spin the breaking ball, showcasing a high-spinning curveball (2488 avg rpm) in the mid 70s and a slider/cutter offering around 80 mph (2348 avg rpm) with advanced feel for both pitches. From an offensive standpoint, Murphy possesses one of the most fluid right-handed swings in the state. With a mature/patient approach, Murphy shows power to all fields while keeping his barrel in the hitting zone for a long time. Also an impressive defender, the Notre Dame commit displays highly athletic infield actions with soft hands and fluid footwork, pairing with a strong/accurate arm across the diamond that can play on the move.
We will see what this coming season has in store for Murphy as he looks to carry over his dominance into the new year.
No. 2: Owen Murphy
Scouting Report
Murphy doesn’t jump out physically, standing at about 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, and the tools aren’t super loud, but he’s a good athlete and does a lot of things well on both sides of the ball. A legitimate two-way prospect, the needle might point a little more toward him being a pitcher long term. In four innings across two appearances, he allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out 10. From a high-3/4 slot, he has an athletic delivery and pitches with regular effort, pumping low-90s fastballs with life. His slider is firm, ranging from 84-89 with hard, late break. He also mixes in a 75-77 curveball with good spin and sharp downer break. At the plate, he keeps the barrel in the hitting zone and can drive the ball to all fields. He has good actions on the infield and first-step quickness. His throws are accurate with plenty of carry. In five games, he went 4-for-9 with a double and home run.
Verbally committed to Notre Dame.