Longtime Phils minor leaguer Jim Murphy likely done with playing career

Slugging first baseman Jim Murphy has decided that his playing days are over.

Reached for comment on Thursday, the Washington state native asserted his time in the lineup has ended.

“I didn’t get a spring training invite from (a major league affiliate),” Murphy shared.  “I don’t want to play independent ball.  I’m done playing.”

The Phillies’ 17th round draft choice in 2008 out of Washington State University, Murphy notched a .264 average with 98 home runs and 432 RBI in 800 career professional games.  Having played at every single level of the Phils’ developmental ranks, the six-foot-four 240-pounder was twice an All-Star in his minor league career, in 2011 with Class A Lakewood, where he is a massive fan favorite, and in 2013 with Double-A Reading.

After wrapping up his 2014 season with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Murphy became a free agent.

Murphy has long been viewed as a player that could one day have a future in coaching.  Through his career, he’d  regularly spend time during off-seasons working at youth clinics and told me a few winters back

that he would like to stay in the game after his playing days were over, whether as a coach or by working in the front office for a team.  If the right offer to again don a uniform came his way, it’s possible Murphy would return to the game.

Update: After the initial publication of this piece, I heard back from Murphy who did not wish for me to use the word “retired” to describe his status.  He declared that, despite stating that he’s done playing, he prefers the phrase “un-signed free agent”.

For now, the 29-year-old is currently working in the home loan industry in Seattle.