The Chicago Cubs are calling up first baseman/third baseman B.J. Murray, Major League sources tell FanSided.
Murray, 26, is the Cubs' No. 19 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. The 26-year-old, who was drafted in the 15th round of the 2021 MLB Draft, has played six seasons in the Minors, hitting .257/.372/.431 with 73 home runs and 335 RBI. He's thrived in Triple-A this season, hitting .294/.395/.500 with an .895 OPS, 16 home runs and 68 RBI.
Murray projects as valuable infield depth with the ability to play in left field. Murray, a switch-hitter, also gives manager Craig Counsell more versatility off the bench late in games.
Cubs call up prospect BJ Murray ahead of postseason push
The Cubs have an elite infield defense, but star shortstop Dansby Swanson is sidelined for 4-6 weeks with an oblique injury. While Murray has no experience playing shortstop, he adds something that Chicago did not have: a definitive backup first baseman behind Michael Busch.
From Cubbies Crib: “It's worth noting that Murray is eligible for the Rule 5 draft, so adding him to the 40-man roster would also give him protection this offseason. A possible sign that the Cubs envision a larger role for Murray on the team next season, considering they would be dealing with the potential losses of Michael Conforto, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and Tyrone Taylor.”
The infield dance card is pretty full on the North Side when fullly healthy, with Swanson, Busch, Nico Hoerner, Alex Bregman and Matt Shaw all locked up for the foreseeable future. But several lineup spots are about to open up this winter, and Murray's versatility could give him an inside track on a bench job in 2027 — especially if he proves he can handle big-league pitching in meaningful at-bats amid a playoff push this September.
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