The Boston Red Sox are in need of some fresh pitching. Injuries have impacted their starting rotation, and the bullpen has been overworked. Brennan Bernardino seems to be appearing in nearly every game, and that workload could catch up to him if the team keeps relying on him so heavily.
Fortunately, help may be on the horizon. Updates on Kutter Crawford are gradually emerging. Meanwhile, Zach Penrod was sent down to Triple-A and made his debut there Wednesday morning, tossing a clean inning without allowing a base runner or recording a strikeout.
Chris Murphy also showed signs of progress. The left-hander made his first rehab outing of the year on Wednesday night in High-A. It marked his first professional appearance since September 27, 2023. Murphy opened the game, striking out the first batter he faced and finishing his inning with one hit allowed, no walks, and two strikeouts. He threw 13 pitches, 10 of them for strikes.
Red Sox reliever Chris Murphy dominates in first rehab outing with High-A Greenville
Murphy appeared to favor his curveball during the outing, throwing it more than any other pitch and using his fastball just twice. Ian Cundell of SoxProspects was in attendance and provided excellent observations from the game.
Murphy made his MLB debut in 2023 and proved to be a reliable left-handed option out of the bullpen. Unfortunately, an elbow injury required season-ending surgery, setting him on a long path back to the big leagues.
Given the lengthy recovery, it makes sense that the 26-year-old began his rehab assignment in High-A and was limited to just one inning. That said, he may not stay at that level for long and could soon be logging multiple innings as he builds up.
In his return, Murphy showcased his sharp curveball and demonstrated solid command, pounding the strike zone. With Boston’s bullpen stretched thin, his return adds much-needed depth. When he’s activated from the 60-day injured list, he’s expected to be optioned to Triple-A like Zach Penrod. Still, that doesn’t rule out a return to the majors later this season.
Murphy provides the Red Sox with another quality bullpen arm and, with his minor league options, offers the team the flexibility to shuttle him between Boston and Worcester as needed. His 2023 performance was promising, and his first rehab outing was a major step forward. It’s exciting to see “Murph” back in action and potentially playing a key role as the season progresses.