Inside The Cubs

Exciting Chicago Cubs Prospect Turning Heads in Double-A

Chicago Cubs prospect B.J. Murray is turning heads with his incredible performance at the Double-A level.
Exciting Chicago Cubs Prospect Turning Heads in Double-A
Exciting Chicago Cubs Prospect Turning Heads in Double-A

In this story:


Chicago Cubs prospect B.J. Murray started to garner attention when he played for Great Britain in this past spring's World Baseball Classic. He played well, which prompted many to see what he could potentially develop into with the Cubs.

Well, 2023 has left little doubts as to the type of player Murray is. 

Drafted in the 15th round of the 2021 MLB draft, Murray played his first full-season of pro-ball in 2022 when he split time between Single-A Myrtle Beach and South Bend. 

His performance there prompted the Cubs to assign him to Double-A Tennessee this season. 

His .286/.410/.439 performance in Single-A ball was impressive, so a slight regression was due to take place with the tougher assignment, right?

Negative. Murray has stepped up and slashed .279/.413/.558 with seven home runs in 129 at-bats. 

That effectively makes him one of the best hitters in the entire Southern League. 

His .971 OPS has been produced over a large sample size too, 37 games to be exact. This is no longer a case of whether or not he can keep it up after 30 at-bats, or 10 games. 

Murray is a real player who could have a real impact on his Major League club one day. 

For now, he will continue to develop at the Double-A level, his first try in the league. If he continues his trend of turning heads, Murray very well could find himself with an assignment in Triple-A before the year is up. 

More From SI's Inide The Cubs

  1. Could Mike Trout Request a Trade to the Chicago Cubs?
  2. Did David Robertson Net the Cubs a Future Star in Ben Brown?
  3. Hoerner is the Cubs Shortstop of the Future
  4. Cubs Could Give Canario a Shot in September
  5. Could the Cubs Land Trea Turner in the Offseason?
  6. Chicago Cubs Have a New Top Prospect in Their Rankings
  7. Is This Top Cubs Prospect Destined for the Mound at Wrigley?
  8. Steele Offers Glimpse Into Future of Cubs Rotation
  9. Do the Chicago Cubs Have the National League's Best Bullpen?
  10. Can Christopher Morel be a Long-Term Solution in Center Field

Published
Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Cubs. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.