John Ryan Murphy

Ken Bolek had an idea.

The former Cleveland Indians coach and longtime Baseball Director at IMG Academy believed, in 2008, that after John Ryan Murphy’s junior year at the Pendleton School, the promising infielder-outfielder should shift to a new position: catcher.1 The suggestion was unconventional because Murphy was about to enter his senior year, but the logic behind it was sound. Across nearly every draft, right-handed bats at the infield and outfield positions are abundant, but catchers with legitimate offensive upside are rare. Bolek recognized that Murphy’s hitting ability would carry significantly more value behind the plate.2

Murphy trusted the evaluation. “I wanted to go for it,” he said. “Ken told me moving forward that my bat will be a bigger factor than my arm. He really felt like catching was going to be my future.”3

His high school coach, Kevin Sharp, agreed. “His bat would be able to play at the next level. What’s going to separate him? What’s going to make him a more intriguing prospect? As long as he was going to transition to catcher, it was a no-brainer.”

Scouts soon echoed that belief. After Murphy committed fully to catching, he vaulted to the top prospect in the state of Florida. “He caught the attention of a lot of professional scouts out there,” Sharp said. “A lot of teams have followed him every day.”4

Sure enough, within a year, Murphy’s progress validated Bolek’s assessment. In the June 2009 amateur draft, the New York Yankees selected him in the second round as a catcher.5

Four years later, on September 2, 2013, he made his major league debut at just 22 years old. He went on to spend eight seasons in the big leagues.

Over the course of Murphy’s career, through both success and adversity, one grounding force never wavered: the strength he drew from family and faith. His bond with his parents shaped not only the player he became but also the person he still strives to be. The faith they instilled in him early on remains a steady presence as he moves from one chapter of his life to the next. Even as baseball defined much of his journey, family and faith have remained his foundation and the source of the purpose that guides him.

***

John Ryan Murphy, commonly referred to as “J.R.,” was born on May 13, 1991, in Bradenton, Florida. He is the son of Carolina (Bolivar) and Mark Murphy and has one sister, Meghan. His mother, Carolina, immigrated from Cuba. She spent 37 years at IMG Academy as a tennis coach, admissions director, and director of parent and alumni relations before retiring in 2016.6 Mark worked for the U.S. Postal Service.

Murphy hit .627 with 11 home runs and 66 RBIs as a senior in high school.7 As the draft approached, expectations grew. Still, Murphy kept a backup plan and committed to the University of Miami. “That’s the only school I wanted to go to and they offered me first, so I took it right away,” said Murphy.8 “It had always been a dream of mine to play for Miami.”9

Even with that commitment, Murphy’s emergence behind the plate and his standout senior season left little doubt he would be selected early. The Yankees picked him 42nd overall, and he was signed by scouts Jeff Deardorff and Brian Barber for a $1.5 million bonus.10

Reflecting on the choice to turn professional, Murphy said, “It was a family decision, and I have no regrets about signing with the Yankees.”11 Looking toward the next phase of his baseball life, Murphy acknowledged the surreal nature of the moment. “It’s kind of weird hearing that phrase, ‘pro baseball player,’” he admitted.12

Three days after signing his professional contract, Murphy made his debut against the Pirates’ Gulf Coast League affiliate in Bradenton, the town where he was born and raised. “I never would have imagined it,” said Carolina.13 Murphy concurred – “I wasn’t expecting that right off the bat. But to have it happen was pretty cool.”14

Murphy got off to a strong start in the GCL, recording a hit in eight of the nine games in which he played. He collected 11 hits including a home run, good for a .333 batting average. Following his short stint in rookie ball, he was selected as the Yankees’ eighth-best prospect by Baseball America and labeled their best “pure hitter” from the draft. Baseball Digest also tabbed him as the organization’s sixth-best prospect.

During his first full professional season in 2010, Murphy appeared in 87 games for the Charleston RiverDogs in the Single-A South Atlantic League. He hit .255 with seven home runs and 54 RBIs. The standout performance came on August 13 against the Hickory Crawdads. He went 3-for-6 with a grand slam, a three-run homer, and nine RBIs, finishing just one RBI shy of the league record.15

Murphy opened his second professional season back in Charleston. Having been behind the plate for only three years, he continued to field questions about where he felt most comfortable on the diamond. “A lot of people ask me what my natural position is,” he said. “I tell them I don’t think I have a natural position. I’m just a baseball player, period. It doesn’t matter where I play. If they tell me to go out and catch or play third base or go to the outfield or pitch, it doesn’t matter as long as I’m on the field. … I’m going to do whatever they ask me to do.”16

He also understood the practical advantages of versatility. “The more I can do, the better chance I’ve got of advancing.”17

Charleston was impressed with the young catcher. “For a 19-year-old kid who was still learning how to catch, I thought J.R. had a great season last year. This year, he’s more mature. He knows the game better. He’s so much more confident at the plate and with the pitchers. He has gotten so much better receiving the ball, and his throwing has improved,” said RiverDogs coach Greg Colbrunn.18

Murphy hit .297 with six home runs and 32 RBIs in 63 games, earning a June promotion to Single-A Tampa. With Tampa he hit .259 with one home run and 14 RBIs before missing the final month and a half of the season with a bruised ankle.

In 2012, Murphy was selected to the Florida State League’s midseason All-Star team before earning a promotion to Double-A Trenton. He finished the year with the Thunder, where he batted .231 with four homers and 16 RBIs in 43 games.

After batting .364 as a non-roster invitee to Yankees spring training, Murphy opened the 2013 season back in Trenton. He was promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in June and went on to hit .270 with six homers and 21 RBIs in 59 games.

On Sunday, September 1, Murphy —listed at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds— was placed on the Yankees’ 40-man roster. The long-awaited call-up marked the realization of a lifelong dream. Upon hearing the news, Carolina and Mark quickly packed their bags. By Sunday afternoon they were sitting in Yankee Stadium.19 “It’s a dream come true for him, so it’s a dream come true for us,” said Carolina. “We’re still trying to soak everything in and realize it’s a reality.”20

On Monday, September 2, Murphy was summoned to pinch-hit for Robinson Canó. In his first major league at-bat, he got an infield single off David Purcey.

“I don’t know how to describe it—exhilarating, nerve-wracking,” said Carolina. “I don’t know what words to use.”21 After the game, Carolina and Mark got to meet manager Joe Girardi, who presented the family with the game’s lineup card. “We had the opportunity to thank him, and he told us that he was excited to have J.R. up here,” said Carolina.22

Girardi then turned to John Ryan and said, “You’re a major-leaguer now, so dinner is on you.”23

Murphy may have thought nothing would top the thrill of his big-league debut, but a few weeks later he realized otherwise. On September 26, the Yankees hosted the Tampa Bay Rays; Murphy was in the starting lineup for his 14th big-league appearance. In the eighth inning, with one out and two on, the Yankees summoned future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera for what became the final appearance of his career. Murphy caught the last pitch Rivera ever threw, securing his own small place in the closer’s legacy.

As the moment unfolded, Murphy stood off to the side of the mound, trying to stay as unobtrusive as possible while witnessing one of the most emotional and unconventional pitching changes in league history. Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte walked out to remove Rivera from the game, a gesture that left Murphy unsure of his role at that particular moment.

“I didn’t in any way want to interfere,” Murphy said. “Usually, the catcher is the first guy out there. And I saw those two guys coming out of the dugout, and I was like, ‘I’m sure as hell not going to be the first guy out there to that mound with those two guys walking over there to get him.”24

“That was my first month in the big leagues. Probably had no business being out there. I have that picture; my jaw is just on the floor. All three of them signed it. It’s definitely a special moment I’ll never forget.”25

Murphy wrapped up the season in the Bronx, batting .154 across 16 games.

In 2014, Murphy spent two separate stints with the Yankees. He batted a combined .284 with one home run and nine RBIs in 32 games, making 21 starts behind the plate. Along with Francisco Cervelli, he backed up Brian McCann. He recorded a hit in a career-high eight consecutive games in which he had an at-bat from April 25 to May 21, batting .500 during that stretch. He was used as a pinch-hitter on May 12 and drew a walk. That appearance did not extend the streak, which stood at six games at the time. In the eight-game run, he hit a home run and drove in six of his RBIs. The homer – his first in the majors – was a game-winning solo shot on April 26 against the Los Angeles Angels. Murphy went 2-for-3 that afternoon with three RBIs.26 It was his first multi-hit and multi-RBI game. He became the first Yankees rookie catcher with a home run and at least three RBIs in a game since Jorge Posada in 1997.

During spring training in 2015, Murphy arrived with a single objective: earn a spot on the Opening Day roster. “I need to play well and impress the coaching staff; it’s as simple as that,” he said. “I’m looking to make the team and anything I have to do that, that’s what I’m going to do.”27

Murphy was named the backup catcher to McCann on the final day of spring training. At 23 years and 328 days old, he became the youngest player to make the Yankees’ Opening Day roster since Eduardo Núñez in 2011.

Murphy spent the entire 2015 season at the major league level and showed flashes of the hitting scouts had long believed he could produce. He hit safely in six straight starts from July 23 to August 5, batting .478 with one homer, five RBIs, and four multi-hit games during that stretch. He was particularly strong after the All-Star break, batting .308 with five doubles, three homers, and nine RBIs in 33 games. It was a promising year for the 23-year-old, who showed the potential to join the Yankees’ long line of distinguished catchers.

However, in professional sports, circumstances can shift quickly – even a strong season does not guarantee long-term stability. Just weeks after Murphy completed his first full season in pinstripes, the Yankees traded him to the Minnesota Twins for outfielder Aaron Hicks.28

Initially shocked by the trade, Murphy soon came to see it as a step forward. “Once I removed my emotions and realized it was a really good thing for my career, I got excited, and the excitement just kept building,” he said the following February.29

Twins manager Paul Molitor was equally encouraged by the acquisition. “It has gone well as far as at least my early impressions of professionalism, knowledge, desire to learn, desire to fit in, unassuming about what his role may be.”30

Murphy made the Twins’ roster out of spring training and debuted on April 7, going 1-for-3 with a double. However, he soon found himself in a deep slump, starting the year 3-for-32 (.094).31 “I’m under the impression that this is a long season and things like this are going to happen,” Murphy said reflecting on the rough stretch.32

The frustration came to a head on April 24 in a 16-inning game against the Washington Nationals. In the 15th inning, Murphy fielded a bunt and made an errant throw that sailed over Joe Mauer’s head at first base, allowing the tying run to score in an eventual Twins loss. On social media, fans questioned whether he deserved a major league roster spot.33 Murphy tried to bring levity to the moment afterward, telling reporters, “I’m on a hitting streak,” after singling with two outs in the 16th inning.34

On May 2 in Houston, Murphy received the first ejection of his career for arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Jerry Layne. Four days later, the Twins optioned him to Triple-A Rochester. He went on to appear in 83 games for the Red Wings, batting .236 with three home runs and 39 RBIs. Minnesota recalled him on September 3, and he finished the season having made 23 starts with a .146 batting average.

Murphy has never shied away from expressing his Christian faith, but his willingness to speak more publicly about it grew during his time in Minnesota. He credited his upbringing for providing the spiritual foundation that shaped him. “I was raised Catholic and my folks are still very strong believers,” Murphy said. “It was quite easy for me to stay grounded in my faith growing up. They are great Christians.”35

Murphy’s faith resonated with at least two Twins teammates. “He was so inspiring because you could see Christ living in him and doing great things in his life…his walk with the Lord is one of the best I have ever seen,” said Brian Dozier.36 Pitcher Kyle Gibson echoed Dozier’s sentiment. “John Ryan is a solid Christian guy who is always looking at things in a positive way. You can tell he loves the Lord just by the way he treats people with respect. I met his family, and you can see it all started with his parents. He was raised the right way.”37

At one point, Murphy’s walk-up song was the Christian hit “Give Me Your Eyes” by Nashville singer Brandon Heath.38 His favorite Bible verse is Ephesians 3:20.39

Yet even with that grounding, 2016 proved to be one of the most challenging years of Murphy’s life, both on and off the field. “It was just a whole bunch of stuff at the same time,” Murphy said the following spring, reflecting on the difficult season.40

Shortly before the trade to Minnesota, Carolina was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The diagnosis weighed heavily on her son, who chose not to publicly reveal her condition.41

In the years that have followed, Carolina has continued to live with remarkable resolve. Even to this day, she leads an active lifestyle, including boxing, cycling, tennis, and golf. “She’s managing it as well as I could ever imagine,” John Ryan commented. “Honestly, it’s been an inspiration watching her.”42

For someone who had always found comfort and confidence with a bat in his hands, the season tested him in ways he had never experienced. Still, Murphy approached the adversity with a constructive mindset. “I’d never dealt with that kind of struggle on the field. But I took a lot of things last year that will help me grow. I failed on the field more than I ever had. How I respond from that personally will tell me a lot about myself,” he said.43

Despite the struggles, Murphy still had the full support of the Twins’ organization. He eventually opened up to the club about what he was facing and his belief that he would rebound. “He was very transparent,” Molitor said. “It was hard for him to go through that…I don’t want to say mulligan, but we’re going to clean the slate.”44

Competition in camp for the backup catcher role in 2017 would be difficult, but Murphy maintained a grounded approach. “The way I look at it is that I’m doing my stuff every day, and my focus is on myself and how I can get better. At the end of camp, whatever happens, happens, but I’m going to take care of what I can control.”45

Murphy began the season in Triple-A and spent much of the year with Rochester. Red Wings manager Mike Quade succinctly summed up what Murphy needed to do to earn another big-league opportunity. “His catching speaks for itself. … But he has to hit.”46

As a receiver, his ability to frame pitches was one of his skills. According to Baseball Prospectus, through the first two months of the 2017 season, Murphy was getting 3.1 percent more called strikes than the average catcher. That was the best mark in professional baseball—at any level.47

Murphy played 59 games for Rochester, hitting .222 with four homers and 27 RBIs before his career took another turn. On July 27, he was dealt to the Arizona Diamondbacks and assigned to Triple-A Reno. There he played in 19 games before being called up on September 1. He made five appearances with the Diamondbacks, going 1-for-7 with a double.

In preparation for the 2018 season, Murphy knew his swing needed an adjustment. The data made that clear, prompting him to embrace the launch-angle revolution.48 “A lot of the balls I was hitting the hardest were the flattest balls, the lower-degree launch angles,” he said. “It was definitely a focus – trying to keep the ball-off-the-bat speed the same, but trying to find a way to create the launch higher.”49

The numbers supported that shift. On the 188 balls he had put in play in major-league games over the previous three seasons, Murphy had posted an average launch angle of just 10.7 degrees. By comparison, superstar sluggers Mike Trout averaged 14.7 degrees and Bryce Harper 14.3.50

Early results suggested that Murphy had been right to overhaul his swing. Through the first two weeks of April, he went 4-for-14 with two home runs. “It’s nice to have gone through some adjustments and seen some success on the field. It’s a small sample size, but I’m glad we’re off to a good start.”51 The Diamondbacks coaching staff took notice as well. “You could notice a big difference when we started up in spring training how the ball is jumping off his bat…it’s been very pleasant seeing the adjustments he made start appearing in the games,” said hitting coach Dave Magadan.52

The work Murphy put in during the offseason, and his willingness to implement a new concept, proved to be exactly what he needed. He set big-league career highs in games (87), home runs (nine), RBIs (24), and plate appearances (223), while matching his career best in doubles (nine). His 42 hits were just one shy of his personal best set in 2015. Behind the plate, he also posted career highs with 68 games, 44 starts, 446 2/3 innings, and 468 total chances.

Murphy entered the 2019 season determined to build on his strong 2018. He also acknowledged the responsibilities of being a backup catcher. “It’s one of those positions where you really need to stay ready every day,” Murphy said. “Especially in the National League, you have to be ready to play in more games, late in the game, because of the pinch hit. It’s a role where your job is to stay ready each day.”53

Many of the habits that prepared Murphy for such a role were formed during his years in the Yankees organization, where he learned from a noteworthy collection of catchers. “Yogi [Berra was there. [Jorge] Posada was there. [Joe] Girardi was there. [Brian] McCann was there. [Francisco] Cervelli was there,” Murphy said. “We had a lot of coaches in the minor leagues that helped me a lot. I had an infinite amount of help within that organization.”54

During the first month of the 2019 season, Murphy continued to show he belonged at the top level. He hit three of his four home runs with Arizona during April and recorded his sixth career three-hit game on April 22 in Pittsburgh.

Later that month, Murphy unexpectedly found himself back in the Yankees’ history books. On April 30, he became CC Sabathia’s 3,000th strikeout victim. “I asked him if he wanted me to sign the baseball for him,” Murphy said when Sabathia came to bat in the next inning. By coincidence, Murphy had been behind the plate for Sabathia’s 2,500th career strikeout.55

However, Murphy’s average dropped to .177. He was designated for assignment on May 25 and optioned back to Triple-A Reno on June 1. On the final day of July, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations and assigned to the Gwinnett Stripers. The Braves called him up on September 17, and he appeared in one game for Atlanta on September 24.

After becoming a free agent that offseason, Murphy signed with the Pirates in January, receiving an invitation to spring training. He welcomed the opportunity to bring his experience to a new clubhouse. “I know what winning baseball looks like,” Murphy said. “I’ve been around a lot of winning players and winning coaching staffs. I would say that’s definitely something I would like to bring to the table.”56

He also highlighted the defensive foundation of his career. “That pitcher-catcher relationship is really important. I was taught that coming up through the Yankees organization. They really stressed the catching side of things. It’s something I try to pride myself on still.”57

Murphy appeared in 25 games for the Pirates during the 2020 season, posting a .172/.226/.207 slash line with no home runs and two RBIs. On October 30, 2020, he was outrighted off the 40-man roster. His playing career was over.

Across eight major league seasons, Murphy appeared in 284 games and recorded 146 hits – including 32 doubles, a triple, and 18 home runs – and 61 RBIs. He had a .215 batting average, .262 on-base percentage, and .344 slugging percentage.

In 2023, Murphy was hired by the Philadelphia Phillies as a player development instructor for the Florida Complex League Phillies in Clearwater, Florida.58 The following year, he began his first full season on the Clearwater Threshers staff as a position coach. As of 2026, he remains in that role with the organization.59

In 2025, Murphy was selected as part of IMG Academy’s inaugural Hall of Fame class, joining honorees such as tennis stars Maria Sharapova and Kei Nishikori and golf champion Paula Creamer.60

Outside of baseball, one of Murphy’s greatest passions lies in giving back. He is the co-founder of the IamMore Foundation. Since 2013, this charitable organization has been dedicated to empowering children with chronic conditions to see their identity beyond their diagnosis.61

John Ryan Murphy’s career is a testament to perseverance and a rare willingness to adapt and evolve. Though his path took unexpected turns, its central thread remained unmistakable: a commitment to growth, to service, and to the people who matter most. Across each chapter of his journey, the steady influence of family and faith grounded him far more deeply than any stat line or transaction log.

Today, Murphy’s impact endures through his work as a coach and mentor and through the example he sets as a husband (to Jessica Seyferth)62 and father (John Ryan and Jessica welcomed their first child in July 2024). In these roles, he continues to shape the game in quieter but no less meaningful ways, leaving a lasting influence on the players and communities he now serves.

Last revised: March 10, 2026

Acknowledgments

This biography was reviewed by Rory Costello and Mike Eisenbath and checked for accuracy by SABR’s fact-checking team.

Sources

In addition to the sources cited in the Notes, the author consulted baseball-reference.com, mlb.com, and baseball-almanac.com.

Notes

1 The Pendleton School, founded in 1999 on the IMG campus, served as a co-educational, college-preparatory school for student-athletes training at the academy. It functioned as the academic component of IMG until 2012, when the institution officially unified its branding and adopted the name IMG Academy.

2 Dennis Maffezzoli, “Catching On: Move from Outfield to Catcher Could Pay Off in Draft for Pendleton’s J.R. Murphy,” Herald-Tribune, June 9, 2009, https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2009/06/09/a-new-position-a-better-shot/28871955007/.

3 Andrew Miller, “Charleston RiverDogs’ J.R. Murphy Just Wants His Shot: ‘It Doesn’t Matter Where I Play,’” Post and Courier, June 1, 2011, https://web.archive.org/web/20110604212206/https://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/jun/01/jr-just-wants-his-shot-it-doesnt-matter-where-i/.

4 Maffezzoli, “Catching On: Move from Outfield to Catcher Could Pay Off in Draft for Pendleton’s J.R. Murphy.”

5 Ironically, Murphy grew up a Red Sox fan, rooting for the Yankees’ chief rival before being selected by New York in the 2009 draft.

6 “Meet Neuro Challenge Champion Carolina Murphy and Team Murphy,” Community Foundation of Sarasota County blog, January 10, 2022, https://www.cfsarasota.org/blog-post/Meet-Neuro-Challenge-Champion-Carolina-Murphy-and-Team-Murphy/Meet-Neuro-Challenge-Champion-Carolina-Murphy-and-Team-Murphy.

7 Roger Mooney, “Welcome to the Big Leagues,” The Bradenton Herald (Florida), August 18, 2009:15.

8 Maffezzoli, “Catching On: Move from Outfield to Catcher Could Pay Off in Draft for Pendleton’s J.R. Murphy.”

9 Miller, “Charleston RiverDogs’ J.R. Murphy Just Wants His Shot: ‘It Doesn’t Matter Where I Play.’”

10 Baseball-Reference lists Murphy’s signing bonus as $1.5 million; however, contemporaneous reports challenge that figure. Baseball America, Perfect Game USA, and several local accounts report his signing bonus as $1.25 million.

11 Miller, “Charleston RiverDogs’ J.R. Murphy Just Wants His Shot: ‘It Doesn’t Matter Where I Play.’”

12 Mooney, “Welcome to the Big Leagues.”

13 John Lembo, “Only the Beginning: Bradenton’s John Ryan Murphy Makes Pro Debut at Pirate City,” The Bradenton Herald (Florida), August 21, 2009:C1.

14 Lembo, “Only the Beginning: Bradenton’s John Ryan Murphy Makes Pro Debut at Pirate City.”

15 James Barbe drove in 10 runs for the Asheville Tourists in a South Atlantic League game on April 22, 1978.

16 Miller, “Charleston RiverDogs’ J.R. Murphy Just Wants His Shot: ‘It Doesn’t Matter Where I Play.’”

17 Miller, “Charleston RiverDogs’ J.R. Murphy Just Wants His Shot: ‘It Doesn’t Matter Where I Play.’”

18 Miller, “Charleston RiverDogs’ J.R. Murphy Just Wants His Shot: ‘It Doesn’t Matter Where I Play.’”

19 John Lembo, “Bradenton’s Murphy a Hit in MLB Debut,” The Bradenton Herald (Florida), September 5, 2013: C1.

20 Lembo, “Bradenton’s Murphy a Hit in MLB Debut.”

21 Lembo, “Bradenton’s Murphy a Hit in MLB Debut.”

22 Lembo, “Bradenton’s Murphy a Hit in MLB Debut.”

23 Lembo, “Bradenton’s Murphy a Hit in MLB Debut.”

24 Jacket Kin, “Catcher John Ryan Murphy Savors Being Part Of Mariano Rivera’s Emotional Final Game,” Forbes, July 15, 2019, https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacketkin/2019/07/15/catcher-john-ryan-murphy-savors-being-part-of-mariano-riveras-emotional-final-game/.

25 Kin, “Catcher John Ryan Murphy Savors Being Part Of Mariano Rivera’s Emotional Final Game.”

26 The fan who ended up with John Ryan’s first home run ball returned it to him, and he later gave the ball to Carolina.

27 Jason Dill, “Murphy’s Backup Plan,” The Bradenton Herald (Florida), March 6, 2015:C1.

28 Bryan Hoch, “Yankees Acquire Hicks from Twins for Murphy,” MLB.com, November 11, 2015, https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-get-aaron-hicks-for-john-ryan-murphy/c-157073394.

29 Associated Press, “John Ryan Murphy Catching on with Twins,” ESPN, February 29, 2016, https://www.espn.com/mlb/story?id=14870892

30 “John Ryan Murphy Catching on with Twins.”

31 Mike Berardino, “Twins’ Murphy Off to Bad Start,” The Jamestown Sun (North Dakota), April 29, 2016: A10.

32 Berardino, “Twins’ Murphy Off to Bad Start.”

33 Berardino, “Twins’ Murphy Off to Bad Start.”

34 Berardino, “Twins’ Murphy Off to Bad Start.”

35 Bruce Darnall, “Minnesota Twins JR Murphy Remembers ‘This Is for Real’ Moment,” What Christians Want To Know, https://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/minnesota-twins-jr-murphy-remembers-this-is-for-real-moment/.

36 Darnall, “Minnesota Twins JR Murphy Remembers ‘This Is for Real’ Moment.”

37 Darnall, “Minnesota Twins JR Murphy Remembers ‘This Is for Real’ Moment.”

38 Darnall, “Minnesota Twins JR Murphy Remembers ‘This Is for Real’ Moment.”

39 Darnall, “Minnesota Twins JR Murphy Remembers ‘This Is for Real’ Moment.”

40 Rhett Bollinger, “Murphy Turns Page on Trying Year, on and off Field,” MLB.com, March 9, 2017, https://www.mlb.com/news/twins-john-ryan-murphy-moves-past-trying-year-c218600720

41 Bollinger, “Murphy Turns Page on Trying Year, on and off Field.”

42 Jason Mackey, “Getting to Know John Ryan Murphy,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 11, 2020, https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2020/01/11/pirates-john-ryan-murphy-getting-to-know-bradenton-parkinson-s-rivera-catcher/stories/202001110043.

43 Bollinger, “Murphy Turns Page on Trying Year, on and off Field.”

44 Bollinger, “Murphy Turns Page on Trying Year, on and off Field.”

45 Bollinger, “Murphy Turns Page on Trying Year, on and off Field.”

46 Sal Maiorana, “Wings Catcher, Bills Fan Murphy Knows Better Days Are Coming,” Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York), June 18, 2017: D3.

47 Chuckie Maggio, “Murphy Shines Behind the Dish, Awaits Next Jump to the Majors,” Pickin’ Splinters, July 6, 2017, https://pickinsplinters.com/2017/07/06/murphy-shines-behind-the-dish-awaits-next-jump-to-the-majors/.

48 The launch-angle revolution is a modern hitting approach built on data analysis that shows hitters are more productive when they strike the ball in the air. Instead of prioritizing ground balls or level swings, players intentionally adjust their swing path to create a higher launch angle with the intention of producing more line drives, deep fly balls, and home runs.

49 Nick Piecoro, “Arizona Diamondbacks’ John Ryan Murphy Joins Launch-Angle Revolution,” azcentral.com, April 13, 2018, https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2018/04/13/arizona-diamondbacks-john-ryan-murphy-getting-results-after-offseason-changes/516918002/

50 Piecoro, “Arizona Diamondbacks’ John Ryan Murphy Joins Launch-Angle Revolution.”

51 Piecoro, “Arizona Diamondbacks’ John Ryan Murphy Joins Launch-Angle Revolution.”

52 Piecoro, “Arizona Diamondbacks’ John Ryan Murphy Joins Launch-Angle Revolution.”

53 Erica Block, “John Ryan Murphy’s Unique Take on the Backup Role,” AZ Snake Pit, April 15, 2019, https://www.azsnakepit.com/2019/4/15/18308355/john-ryan-murphys-unique-take-on-the-backup-role

54 Block, “John Ryan Murphy’s Unique Take on the Backup Role,”

55 Kevin Kernan, “Ex-Yankee John Ryan Murphy Once Again Becomes Part of Team’s History,” New York Post, May 1, 2019, https://nypost.com/2019/05/01/ex-yankee-john-ryan-murphy-once-again-becomes-part-of-teams-history/

56 Jason Mackey, “Getting to Know John Ryan Murphy,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 11, 2020, https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2020/01/11/pirates-john-ryan-murphy-getting-to-know-bradenton-parkinson-s-rivera-catcher/stories/202001110043.

57 Mackey, “Getting to Know John Ryan Murphy.”

58 “Threshers Announce 2024 Coaching Staff,” MiLB.com, February 5, 2024, https://www.milb.com/news/threshers-announce-2024-coaching-staff

59 “Threshers Announce 2024 Coaching Staff.”

60 Xavier McKnight, “IMG Academy Honors Five Inductees for the School’s Inaugural Hall of Fame Class,” MySuncoast, November 6, 2025, https://www.mysuncoast.com/2025/11/07/img-academy-honors-five-inductees-schools-inaugural-hall-fame-class/

61 IamMore Foundation, IamMore Foundation, https://iammorefoundation.org/.

62 Jessica Seyferth, originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, is an accomplished athlete in her own right. At the University of Wisconsin–Madison, she was a four-year varsity letterwinner on the women’s tennis team and a two-time team captain. Her honors included Academic All–Big Ten recognition, the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, the program’s “Most Valuable Player” award, and two “Grinder Awards.” She was also an active member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She is currently a real estate agent with Keller Williams in St. Petersburg, Florida, serves as Senior Manager of Partnerships for Tory Johnson Productions, and is a racquet professional with Oxford Commons Hospitality Company in Tampa.