| Matt Murton | |
|---|---|
 Murton with the Hanshin Tigers in 2012 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1981-10-03)October 3, 1981 (age 44) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: July 8, 2005, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| NPB: March 26, 2010, for the Hanshin Tigers | |
| Last appearance | |
| MLB: October 4, 2009, for the Colorado Rockies | |
| NPB: October 4, 2015, for the Hanshin Tigers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .286 |
| Home runs | 29 |
| Runs batted in | 112 |
| NPB statistics | |
| Batting average | .310 |
| Home runs | 77 |
| Runs batted in | 417 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Matthew Henry Murton (born October 3, 1981) is an American former professionalbaseballoutfielder. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theChicago Cubs,Oakland Athletics, andColorado Rockies. Murton also played inNippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for theHanshin Tigers.
In 2001 and 2002, Murton playedcollegiate summer baseball for theWareham Gatemen of theCape Cod Baseball League (CCBL). Murton led the Gatemen to the league title in both seasons, being named the league's MVP in 2001, and in 2002 batting .400 and winning the league's all-star home run derby. He was inducted into theCCBL Hall of Fame in 2008.[1][2][3]
Murton was drafted out ofGeorgia Tech baseball in the supplemental first round of the2003 MLB draft by theBoston Red Sox.[4] Murton played a total of 155 games in the Red Sox organization for theLowell Spinners and theSarasota Red Sox.
Murton was acquired at the2004 trading deadline by theChicago Cubs along with Red Sox star shortstop and fellow former Georgia Tech Yellow JacketNomar Garciaparra as part of a four-team blockbuster deal.[5] He spent the rest of the year with theClass A-AdvancedDaytona Cubs.
He started2005 with theDouble-AWest Tenn Diamond Jaxx, but was called up to the major leagues for the first time on July 8, along withAdam Greenberg, to replace the strugglingCorey Patterson andJason Dubois.[6] On the same day, he went 2-for-2 with awalk and asacrifice fly against theFlorida Marlins in his major league debut.[7] He continued his success in the majors over the rest of the season, hitting .321 with twostolen bases, seven home runs, and anon-base percentage of .386 in 51 games in 2005.
In2006, Murton became the Cubs' startingleft fielder. On August 3, 2006, Murton went 4-for-4 with 4doubles and 5 RBIs in game 2 of adoubleheader against theArizona Diamondbacks, matching a major league record for doubles in a single game.[8] 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.[9]
For2007, Murton saw his playing time reduced when the Cubs signedCliff Floyd to play in left field. Whencenter fielderAlfonso Soriano switched back to left field in April, Murton switched toright field. On June 13, after hitting only one home run with eight RBIs in limited playing time, Murton was optioned toTriple-A to make room for left-handedpitcherClay Rapada.
On July 27, 2007, Murton was called back up to the major leagues, along with pitcherRocky Cherry, with his first start coming on July 30.[10]
In2008, 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. In those 42 plate appearances, he managed only two hits, and spent most of the first half of the season in the minors.
On July 8, 2008, Murton was traded along with Cubs prospectsJosh Donaldson,Eric Patterson, andSean Gallagher to theOakland Athletics for pitchersRich Harden andChad Gaudin.[11]
On February 4, 2009, Murton was traded to theColorado Rockies for infielderCorey Wimberly. When stepping to the plate at Rockies home games, the song "Strong Tower" byKutless was played over the speaker system.
On December 4, 2009, Murton was released by the Rockies,[12] who sold his contract to theHanshin Tigers of Japan'sNippon Professional Baseball.[13]
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.[14] On October 5, 2010, Murton broke the NPB single- season hit record of 210, set byIchiro Suzuki in 1994 (in 130 games), getting his 211th hit in game #142.[15] He finished his first season in Japan with 214 hits, a .349 batting average, 17 home runs and 91 RBIs.
Murton's single-season hits record was eclipsed in 2015 byShogo Akiyama of theSeibu Lions, who recorded 216 hits in 143 games.[16]
Murton played six seasons for theHanshin Tigers, with a .310 career batting average and 1,020 hits. In 2015, Murton became the 16th foreign player to achieve 1,000 career hits in NPB.
On February 16, 2016, Murton returned to MLB and signed a minor league contract with theChicago Cubs organization. In 76 games for the Triple–AIowa Cubs, he batted .314/.349/.398 with two home runs and 37 RBI. Murton elected free agency following the season on November 7.[17]
On February 20, 2017, Murton signed a minor league contract with theDetroit Tigers.[18] The Tigers released him on April 18, 2017.[19]
On March 9, 2018, Murton retired and became an assistant in theChicago Cubs front office.[20]
On February 5, 2024, thePhiladelphia Phillies announced Murton would serve as a minor league hitting advisor.[21]
· Baseball Almanac, orNPB(in Japanese)