Murphy ready for “bounceback” year
If there’s one word the encapsulates the Rockies’ expectations for 2020, it would be “bounceback.” It’s the primary, oftrepeated reason the team gives for its inactivity during the offseason. And if there is one position player who represents the Rockies’ visions of a rebound, it’s veteran first baseman Daniel Murphy. Ask players in the clubhouse and they’ll say Murphy, who turns 35 on April 1, is primed to be an offensive force in 2020.
“When he’s on and when he’s right, which is most of his career, he’s an elite hitter,” all-star shortstop Trevor Story said Tuesday. “You’re going to see a professional at-bat from him every time. He doesn’t chase and he can hurt you, too.
“I expect big things. I know how hard ‘Murph’ worked this offseason. I think he looks great.”
Murphy’s “elite” skills were on display in Monday’s Cactus League game against the Indians at Salt River Fields.
In the third inning, the left-handed hitter used his quick hands to flick an RBI double down the third baseline.
“‘Playing against ‘Murph,’ I always feared him because he is such a true hitter,” manager Bud Black said. “He uses the whole field, and there’s not just one way to pitch him. He’s going to get his hits, from line to line.”
Murphy arrived in Colorado prior to last season on a two-year, $24 million deal, but it turned out to be a disappoint
ing season. After breaking a finger in the second game, Murphy wore a splint when he returned and played in pain for most of the rest of the season.
Limited to 132 games, he hit .279 with 13 homers and 78 RBIs. His career average is .298. His first homer at Coors Field didn’t come until July 12 against the Reds. Also troubling, his 15.5% strikeout rate was his worst since 2008.
The Rockies believe his fall in production was directly related to his injury, not due to a decline in skills or bat speed.
“He was injured, and that (finger) injury, specifically, is hard on a hitter,” Black said. “You need your hands and you need your hand strength, and that was compromised. I think that affected him the whole season.”
Murphy is philosophical about his first season in Colorado.
“Anytime you have experiences, for good or bad, you learn from them,” Murphy said, “but you don’t also carry it around your neck like an anchor.”
Murphy was an all-star in 2014 for the Mets and again in 2016 and ’17 while playing for Washington.
Those two seasons with the Nationals were the best of his career. In 2016, he had 25 home runs, 47 doubles and a career-high 104 RBIs. Then the next season he hit 23 homers, 43 doubles and drove in 93 runs.
It’s that resume that fuels general manager Jeff Bridich‘s optimism.
“I think if we can just have a normal kind of season for him, he’s going to plug in and just probably be the consistent, quality at-bat that we thought he would be last year,” Bridich said.