Matt Murton
Encyclopedia
Matthew Henry Murton is an outfielder
for the Hanshin Tigers
of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. He previously played five years in Major League Baseball
for the Chicago Cubs
, Oakland Athletics
, and Colorado Rockies
.
. Murton played just 155 games in the Red Sox organization, with the Lowell Spinners
and the Sarasota Red Sox, hitting for a high on-base percentage and average power.
along with Red Sox star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra
as part of a four-team blockbuster deal. He spent the rest of the year with the Single-A Daytona Cubs
.
He started with the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
and on July 8, he was called up along with Adam Greenberg, replacing the struggling Corey Patterson
, and Jason Dubois
. On the same day, he went 2-for-2 with a walk
and a sacrifice fly
against the Florida Marlins
in his major league debut. He continued his success in the majors over the rest of the season, hitting .321 with two stolen base
s, seven home runs, and an on-base percentage of .386 in 51 games in 2005.
In , Murton became the Cubs' starting left fielder
. On August 3, 2006, Murton went 4-for-4 with 4 doubles
and 5 RBIs in game 2 of a doubleheader
against the Arizona Diamondbacks
, matching a major league record for doubles in a single game. He finished the year with the second-highest mark on the team in batting average, at .297, with 13 home runs and 62 runs batted in. He became a fan favorite in Chicago and was given the nickname "Thunder Matt" by some of the Cub faithful.
For , Murton saw his playing time reduced when the Cubs signed Cliff Floyd
to spend time in left field. When center fielder
Alfonso Soriano
switched back to left field in April, Murton switched to right field. On June 13, after hitting only one home run with eight RBIs in limited playing time, Murton was optioned to Triple-A to make room for left-handed
pitcher
Clay Rapada
.
On July 27, 2007, Murton was called back up to the major leagues, along with pitcher Rocky Cherry
, with his first start coming on July 30.
In , Murton saw his playing time diminish even further, playing in just nineteen games, and recording only 42 plate appearances in the first three months of the season for the Cubs.
for pitchers Rich Harden
and Chad Gaudin
.
for infielder Corey Wimberly. When stepping to the plate at Rockies home games, "Strong Tower
" by Kutless
plays over the speaker system.
of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
In Murton's rookie season with the Hanshin Tigers he became only the fourth player in Nippon Professional Baseball history to have a 200-hit season. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sb20100924j2.html On October 5, 2010, Murton broke the single season hit record, set by Ichiro Suzuki
, hitting his 211th hit (in 130 games). He successfully finished his first regular season in Japan with 214 hits (in 144 games), .349 batting average, 17 home runs and 91 RBIs.
for Eagles Landing High School in McDonough, Georgia
, and later for the Georgia Tech
Yellow Jackets
. Matt's younger brother, Luke, also played for Georgia Tech and is currently in the New York Yankees farm system.
Co., Ltd. and letters "Family Murton". An employee for the chain saw the goods, and FamilyMart have been selling 5 collaboration products with the Tigers to cheer for Murton and the team since September 21, 2010 only in the Kansai region; "", "", "", "" and "". http://www.family.co.jp/company/news_releases/2010/100916_2.html
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the Hanshin Tigers
Hanshin Tigers
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. He previously played five years in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, and Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
.
Boston Red Sox
Murton was drafted out of Georgia Tech in the supplemental first round of the 2003 MLB Draft by the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Murton played just 155 games in the Red Sox organization, with the Lowell Spinners
Lowell Spinners
The Lowell Spinners are a Short-Season A minor league baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.-History:Founded in 1996 after Clyde Smoll moved the Elmira Pioneers to Lowell, Massachusetts, the Spinners play in the New York - Penn League, which has a Short-Season A classification with 76 games a...
and the Sarasota Red Sox, hitting for a high on-base percentage and average power.
Chicago Cubs
Murton was acquired at the trading deadline by the Chicago CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
along with Red Sox star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra
Nomar Garciaparra
Anthony Nomar Garciaparra is a former Major League Baseball player. After playing parts of 9 seasons as an All-Star shortstop for the Boston Red Sox, he played third base, first base, and designated hitter for the Oakland Athletics, first base and third base for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and...
as part of a four-team blockbuster deal. He spent the rest of the year with the Single-A Daytona Cubs
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs are a minor league baseball team based in Daytona Beach, Florida. The team plays in the Florida State League , and is the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs major league club. The Cubs play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark; opened in 1914, the park seats 5,100 fans.The...
.
He started with the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
The Jackson Generals are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The team is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and plays their home games at Pringles Park; opened in 1998, the park currently holds 6,000 fans.From their inaugural season...
and on July 8, he was called up along with Adam Greenberg, replacing the struggling Corey Patterson
Corey Patterson
Donald Corey Patterson is an American professional baseball free agent outfielder in Major League Baseball. He is the older brother of outfielder Eric Patterson.-Amateur career:...
, and Jason Dubois
Jason Dubois
Jason Bradford Dubois is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 14th round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft...
. On the same day, he went 2-for-2 with a walk
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
and a sacrifice fly
Sacrifice fly
In baseball, a sacrifice fly is a batted ball that satisfies four criteria:* There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.* The ball is hit to the outfield....
against the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
in his major league debut. He continued his success in the majors over the rest of the season, hitting .321 with two stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s, seven home runs, and an on-base percentage of .386 in 51 games in 2005.
In , Murton became the Cubs' starting left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
. On August 3, 2006, Murton went 4-for-4 with 4 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and 5 RBIs in game 2 of a doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
, matching a major league record for doubles in a single game. He finished the year with the second-highest mark on the team in batting average, at .297, with 13 home runs and 62 runs batted in. He became a fan favorite in Chicago and was given the nickname "Thunder Matt" by some of the Cub faithful.
For , Murton saw his playing time reduced when the Cubs signed Cliff Floyd
Cliff Floyd
Cornelius Clifford Floyd, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early years:Floyd was born to parents Cornelius Clifford Floyd, Sr. and Olivia Floyd. After spending 13 years as an only child, Floyd was joined by brother Julius...
to spend time in left field. When center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
Alfonso Soriano
Alfonso Soriano
Alfonso Guilleard Soriano is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Chicago Cubs....
switched back to left field in April, Murton switched to right field. On June 13, after hitting only one home run with eight RBIs in limited playing time, Murton was optioned to Triple-A to make room for left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Clay Rapada
Clay Rapada
Clayton Anthony Rapada is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball.-Career:...
.
On July 27, 2007, Murton was called back up to the major leagues, along with pitcher Rocky Cherry
Rocky Cherry
Rocky Ty Cherry is a pitcher in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent.-Biography:Cherry pitched for the University of Oklahoma from 2000–2002. He was used mostly in relief his first season, but was a full-time starter by the time he finished at school...
, with his first start coming on July 30.
In , Murton saw his playing time diminish even further, playing in just nineteen games, and recording only 42 plate appearances in the first three months of the season for the Cubs.
Oakland Athletics
On July 8, 2008, Murton was traded along with three other Cubs prospects to the Oakland AthleticsOakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for pitchers Rich Harden
Rich Harden
James Richard Harden is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher.-Early years:Harden attended Claremont Secondary School in Victoria, British Columbia. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 38th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft...
and Chad Gaudin
Chad Gaudin
Chad Edward Gaudin is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball.-High school:Gaudin attended Crescent City Baptist High School in Metairie, Louisiana...
.
Colorado Rockies
On February 4, 2009, Murton was traded to the Colorado RockiesColorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
for infielder Corey Wimberly. When stepping to the plate at Rockies home games, "Strong Tower
Strong Tower
Strong Tower is a worship album released by the Christian rock group, Kutless, and it is also their third studio album. An enhanced Deluxe Edition of this album was released on March 20, 2007. The additional tracks included on the Deluxe Edition are "My Savior and My God", "We Exalt Thee", and...
" by Kutless
Kutless
Kutless is a Christian rock band from Portland, Oregon formed in 1999. Since their formation, they have released six studio albums including their latest, It Is Well. The band has also released a live album, Live from Portland. Currently, they have sold almost 2 million records.-Biography:Formed in...
plays over the speaker system.
Hanshin Tigers
On December 4, 2009, Murton was released by the Rockies, who sold his contract to the Hanshin TigersHanshin Tigers
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
In Murton's rookie season with the Hanshin Tigers he became only the fourth player in Nippon Professional Baseball history to have a 200-hit season. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sb20100924j2.html On October 5, 2010, Murton broke the single season hit record, set by Ichiro Suzuki
Ichiro Suzuki
, usually known simply as is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Seattle Mariners. Ichiro has established a number of batting records, including the sport's single-season record for hits with 262...
, hitting his 211th hit (in 130 games). He successfully finished his first regular season in Japan with 214 hits (in 144 games), .349 batting average, 17 home runs and 91 RBIs.
- Entrance music: "Strong TowerStrong TowerStrong Tower is a worship album released by the Christian rock group, Kutless, and it is also their third studio album. An enhanced Deluxe Edition of this album was released on March 20, 2007. The additional tracks included on the Deluxe Edition are "My Savior and My God", "We Exalt Thee", and...
" by KutlessKutlessKutless is a Christian rock band from Portland, Oregon formed in 1999. Since their formation, they have released six studio albums including their latest, It Is Well. The band has also released a live album, Live from Portland. Currently, they have sold almost 2 million records.-Biography:Formed in...
Personal life
Murton is married to Stephanie Murton and has homes in Georgia, Florida, and Colorado. Murton played baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
for Eagles Landing High School in McDonough, Georgia
McDonough, Georgia
McDonough is a city in Henry County, Georgia, United States. The population was 22084 at the 2010 census. Inclusion of the unincorporated neighborhoods surrounding McDonough, which are not part of a town/city, raises the population to approximately 30,000 from an estimate in 2008. The city is the...
, and later for the Georgia Tech
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The Yellow Jackets is the name used for all of the intercollegiate athletic teams that play for the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. The teams have also been nicknamed the Ramblin' Wreck, Engineers, Blacksmiths, and Golden Tornado. There are 8 men's and 7 women's teams that...
. Matt's younger brother, Luke, also played for Georgia Tech and is currently in the New York Yankees farm system.
Others
Tigers fans cheering for Murton use handmade goods painted with corporate colors of the convenience store chain FamilyMartFamilyMart
is a convenience store franchise chain first opened in Japan on September 1, 1981. FamilyMart is Japan's third largest convenience store chain, behind 7-Eleven and Lawson, and the largest chain store in South Korea. FamilyMart is owned and overseen by FamilyMart Company, Limited...
Co., Ltd. and letters "Family Murton". An employee for the chain saw the goods, and FamilyMart have been selling 5 collaboration products with the Tigers to cheer for Murton and the team since September 21, 2010 only in the Kansai region; "", "", "", "" and "". http://www.family.co.jp/company/news_releases/2010/100916_2.html