With the 125th pick of the 2020 MLB Draft the Tampa Bay Rays selected Tanner Murray, a shortstop out of UC Davis.
Murray, standing at 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds has the chance to stick at shortstop and scouts believe that he should come into some additional power with a turn to pro-ball.
Across 16 games in the shortened 2020 season, Murray slashed .310/.372/.535 with one homerun. In 2019, he .364 across 64 games. Despite performing well at the plate at UC Davis, Murray did struggle in the Cape Cod league, which is typically where draft picks shine.
The 20-year-old middle infielder was ranked the 202nd best prospect according to Baseball America’s draft board, but overlooked at other publications.
Over his first two full seasons at UC Davis, Murray put together white the resume collecting a handful of accolades that include:
- All Big West Conference First Team (‘19)
- All Big West Conference Second Team (‘18)
- Big West Freshman of the Year (‘18)
- Collegiate Baseball All-American Team Selection (‘18)
When combining his solid track record at UC Davis with his plus hand-eye coordination, which could translate to plud defensive skills down the line, Murray seems to be a safe pick for the Rays to sign under slot as they try to move money around to sign their first overall pick.
Murray’s selection alongside SS Alika Williams at No. 37 has shades of the Rays 2018 draft, where middle infielders Tyler Frank and Ford Proctor were drafted in the second and third rounds. Murray differentiates from Williams in that his calling card is the bat thanks to plus plate discipline, although both share a lack of in-game power out of college.
4 (125): @RaysBaseball select University of California - Davis (CA) SS Tanner Murray. https://t.co/t21JEWApHw #MLBDraft
— MLB Draft Tracker (@MLBDraftTracker) June 12, 2020
Rays add a big bat in shortstop Tanner Murray from UC Davis. Murray is drafted as a MIF and may be the future SS for the #Rays.
— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) June 12, 2020
- Great power to all fields, gap to gap double guy
- Able to spray the ball all around
- Great hands defensively #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/Q1SOHbiOwI