CubsHub
02-12-2006, 11:13 PM
Matt Murton
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 226
B/T: R/R
DOB: 10/3/1981
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Murton was the Red Sox first round (32nd overall) draft pick in the 2003 draft (signed July 8, 2003). He is a product of Georgia Tech, a school that has produced such MLB talent like Garciaparra, Kevin Brown, Mark Teixeira and Jason Varitek. And the site of recent Cub draftee Eric Patterson and acquitional trade of Richard Lewis. Boston drafted Murton with the 32nd overall pick in the 2003 draft.
Murton came over to the Cubs when Jim Hendry landed Nomar Garciaparra at the trade deadline in July, 2004. He was assigned to Class-A Daytona and seemed to slack off after a hot start with the Red Sox Class-A affiliate, Sarasota. With the BoSox, Murton batted .301 through 102 games but closed out the year hitting .252 in his final 24 games of the regular season at Daytona.
Murton won the 2004 Florida State League Homerun Derby while a member of Sarasota (outslugging Brandon Sing). Though he doesn't quite have the homerun power of say, Brandon Sing or Brian Dopirak, his strikeout totals (or lack thereof) are astonishing. The fact that he struck out only 42 times in 313 at bats while walking 29 times (in AA) speaks volumes as to his natural plate discpline.
2004 Sarasota (high A) BoSox
In 102 games, Murton was 113 for 376 with 60 runs, 16 doubles, 4 triples, 11 hrs, 55 rbi, 42 bb, 61 k, 5/9 sb, .301/.372/.452/.824 before being traded, yet staying in the same Florida State League.
2004 Daytona (high A) Cubs
For the Cubs after the trade, he appeared in 24 games, going 20 for 79 with 13 runs, 1 double, 1 triple, 2 hrs, 8 rbi, 8 bb, 10 k, 2/2 sb, .253/.326/.367/.693
2005 West Tenn (AA)
He appeared in 78 games, going 107 for 313 with 46 runs, 17 doubles, 4 triples, 8 hrs, 46 rbi, 29 bb, 42 k, 18/23 sb, .342/.403/.498/.901
2005 Iowa
He appeared in 9 games going 12 for 34 with 4 runs, 2 doubles, 1 hr, 3 rbi, 4 bb, 8 k, .353/.421/.500/.921
2005 MLB
He appeared in 51 games going 45 for 140 with 19 runs, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 7 hrs, 14 rbi, 16 bb, 22 k, 2/3 sb, .321/.386/.521/.907
Batting And Power:
Naturally Murton's stroke is built on solid line drive contact. Even when Murton makes outs he does it gracefully and puts the bat on the ball. Currently his power is considered gap-power but he did show flashes this season of monster strength. Scouts have long pegged Murton as a 15-20 hr hitter, but he does have the capability to slug 25-30. It's just that Murton is not the type hitter to sacrifice his contact for more of the power game. Which is good news for Cub fans, since we have enough poor contact, great power prospects. Murton is the perfect two hole hitter, he hits for contact, he can hit for power, he gets on base, he works counts, he takes walks, and he strikes out very little.
Read this entire report! (http://www.cubshub.com/article.php?story=20060113083746616)
Up next, outfield prospect Ryan Harvey.
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 226
B/T: R/R
DOB: 10/3/1981
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Murton was the Red Sox first round (32nd overall) draft pick in the 2003 draft (signed July 8, 2003). He is a product of Georgia Tech, a school that has produced such MLB talent like Garciaparra, Kevin Brown, Mark Teixeira and Jason Varitek. And the site of recent Cub draftee Eric Patterson and acquitional trade of Richard Lewis. Boston drafted Murton with the 32nd overall pick in the 2003 draft.
Murton came over to the Cubs when Jim Hendry landed Nomar Garciaparra at the trade deadline in July, 2004. He was assigned to Class-A Daytona and seemed to slack off after a hot start with the Red Sox Class-A affiliate, Sarasota. With the BoSox, Murton batted .301 through 102 games but closed out the year hitting .252 in his final 24 games of the regular season at Daytona.
Murton won the 2004 Florida State League Homerun Derby while a member of Sarasota (outslugging Brandon Sing). Though he doesn't quite have the homerun power of say, Brandon Sing or Brian Dopirak, his strikeout totals (or lack thereof) are astonishing. The fact that he struck out only 42 times in 313 at bats while walking 29 times (in AA) speaks volumes as to his natural plate discpline.
2004 Sarasota (high A) BoSox
In 102 games, Murton was 113 for 376 with 60 runs, 16 doubles, 4 triples, 11 hrs, 55 rbi, 42 bb, 61 k, 5/9 sb, .301/.372/.452/.824 before being traded, yet staying in the same Florida State League.
2004 Daytona (high A) Cubs
For the Cubs after the trade, he appeared in 24 games, going 20 for 79 with 13 runs, 1 double, 1 triple, 2 hrs, 8 rbi, 8 bb, 10 k, 2/2 sb, .253/.326/.367/.693
2005 West Tenn (AA)
He appeared in 78 games, going 107 for 313 with 46 runs, 17 doubles, 4 triples, 8 hrs, 46 rbi, 29 bb, 42 k, 18/23 sb, .342/.403/.498/.901
2005 Iowa
He appeared in 9 games going 12 for 34 with 4 runs, 2 doubles, 1 hr, 3 rbi, 4 bb, 8 k, .353/.421/.500/.921
2005 MLB
He appeared in 51 games going 45 for 140 with 19 runs, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 7 hrs, 14 rbi, 16 bb, 22 k, 2/3 sb, .321/.386/.521/.907
Batting And Power:
Naturally Murton's stroke is built on solid line drive contact. Even when Murton makes outs he does it gracefully and puts the bat on the ball. Currently his power is considered gap-power but he did show flashes this season of monster strength. Scouts have long pegged Murton as a 15-20 hr hitter, but he does have the capability to slug 25-30. It's just that Murton is not the type hitter to sacrifice his contact for more of the power game. Which is good news for Cub fans, since we have enough poor contact, great power prospects. Murton is the perfect two hole hitter, he hits for contact, he can hit for power, he gets on base, he works counts, he takes walks, and he strikes out very little.
Read this entire report! (http://www.cubshub.com/article.php?story=20060113083746616)
Up next, outfield prospect Ryan Harvey.