Former Mets All-Star second baseman signs with Long Island Ducks
Three-time All-Star Daniel Murphy is coming out of retirement and returning to the state where he began his MLB career.
On Wednesday, the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball's Long Island Ducks announced that they had signed the longtime Mets second baseman for the upcoming season.
"This game is part of my soul, and my passion for playing grew as great as ever when I discovered certain things that I believe will enable me to be productive on the field again," Murphy said in a press release.
"Competing before the New York fans is an enormous privilege, and I hope that my effort and performance reflect how honored I am to do so," he added. "The sincerest thanks from my family and I to the Long Island Ducks for this chance at a new adventure."
The 37-year-old Murphy is the latest Duck with Mets ties. Last month, Long Island signed infielder Rubén Tejada, Murphy's ex-double play partner. In addition, 1986 World Series champion and former Mets second baseman Wally Backman manages the team, while former pitcher Nelson Figueroa serves as the pitching coach.
Ducks infielder Tzu-Wei Lin also had a short stint in the Mets organization, though he never played for the Major League club.
A 13th-round pick by the Mets during the 2006 MLB Draft, Murphy made his Major League debut two years later and went on to play seven seasons across two stints with New York (2008-09, 2011-15). He ranks third in franchise history in doubles (228) and eighth in batting average (.288).
During the 2015 postseason, Murphy reached the pinnacle of his Mets career when he became the first player in MLB history to hit a home run in six consecutive postseason games, helping the Mets capture the National League pennant.
Murphy's historic 2015 postseason run also saw him become just the second player ever, after Lou Gehrig, to record a hit, a run and an RBI in seven consecutive playoff games.
The Mets opted not to re-sign Murphy following his postseason heroics, which led him to eventually agree to a contract with the division rival Nationals. He wound up finishing second in the 2016 N.L. MVP voting during his first season in Washington.
After spending parts of the next two seasons in the nation's capital, the Nationals traded Murphy to the Chicago Cubs. He subsequently signed with the Colorado Rockies in 2019 and played two seasons in Denver before calling it a career.
Murphy finished his 12-year Major League career with a .296 batting average, 138 home runs, 735 RBI, 1,572 hits, a .341 on-base percentage and a .796 OPS.
The Ducks and newest member Murphy will open their 126-game regular season -- the 23rd season in team history -- on the road against the High Point Rockers on April 28.
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