White Sox manager Will Venable announced (as reported by Scott Merkin of MLB.com) that Tanner Murray suffered a dislocation (h/t James Fegan of Sox Machine) and shoulder fracture that will require surgery, with an expected 4-6 month recovery timetable. Murray injured himself laying out for a CJ Abrams flyball in the top of the tenth inning of yesterday’s 2-1 Nationals win. The White Sox have placed Murray on the 10-day IL
The 26-year old Murray made his MLB debut this season with the White Sox after a half-decade working up the ranks in Tampa Bay’s organization. Drafted in the fourth round out of UC Davis in 2020, Murray looked quite good at Single-A Charleston in 2021 before struggling somewhat at High-A Bowling Green the following year.
His 2023, spread across three levels, was successful, but Murray’s performance at the upper levels of the minors left something to be desired. He had arguably his strongest showing in 2024: a .290/.328/.424 line in 470 plate appearances at Double-A Montgomery, good for a park and league adjusted 121 wRC+ (100 is average), but a below-average 2025 at Triple-A Durham (.241/.299/.400 in 572 PAs for an 81 wRC+) curtailed his ascent to the majors.
Last offseason, Murray became one-half of the White Sox return (alongside Everson Pereira) for righties Yoendrys Gómez and Steven Wilson. This time, Murray’s Triple-A showcase with Charlotte (in an admittedly small 30 PAs) was stupendous: a .304/.467/.609 line, good for a 177 wRC+. That was enough to convince Chicago to give the 26-year-old rookie his first taste of MLB action.
In terms of tools, Murray profiles more as a jack-of-all trades. He likely lacks the offensive upside to be an everyday starter. He hit only .214/.281/.321 (58 wRC+) in his first 33 MLB PAs, but his defensive versatility offers flexibility at the end of the bench. Roughly half of his appearances have come in left field for the White Sox, but he has also been able to effectively cover third base and short (his primary defensive homes in the minors) at the big league level in a small sample.
That’s GOTTA hurt!
I’m sorry to hear that. I saw a replay and he made a great effort but I was concerned the way he left the field. Injures like that are hard to quickly come back from so I expect he is done for the year.
There have been 10 players named Tanner in MLB history. Tanner Murray is the only one that isn’t/wasn’t a pitcher.
Lmao
Love him biting the gloves but too many ks not enough walks to be an MLB batter despite the fielding craftiness. I would say call up William Bergolla Jr. but I believe he is injured too. Jesse Winker signing?
Or there is Kelenic
Hays is coming back from rehab assignment soon, they may just move up his timeline.
Please, no more moving up “timelines”. That did Kyle Teel no good.
Good on him for earning nearly a year of service time and major league pay
Damn that’s brutal. Hoping he has a fast and full recovery.