Penn Murfee's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Houston Astros right-hander Penn Murfee's (elbow) chances of a return this year went up in smoke after he tossed 19 pitches (12 strikes) in a minor-league rehab game for Single-A Fayetteville on Aug. 15 at Augusta. Murfee was shut down from throwing after that outing but was expected to face hitters in late September. He was claimed off waivers on March 27 from the Atlanta Braves. The last time Murfee pitched in the big leagues was last year with the Seattle Mariners, when he had a sharp 1.29 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 16 strikeouts in just 14 innings. The 30-year-old reliever had a 2.99 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 64 appearances for the Mariners in his rookie season in 2022. Murfee will now try to have a healthy offseason this winter after undergoing surgery on his right elbow.

The Houston Astros pulled relief pitcher Penn Murfee (elbow) off his minor-league rehab assignment late last week. Murfee had Tommy John surgery last July, and while the Astros were hopeful he could contribute to its bullpen depth this season, there were no concrete expectations. He experienced what the team described as "a reoccurrence of right-elbow discomfort" after one outing for Single-A Fayetteville. Murfee is now the fifth Astros pitcher this year to suffer a setback while rehabbing from an arm injury, joining Luis Garcia, Lance McCullers Jr., Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy. The 30-year-old Murfee has been rehabbing from his Tommy John surgery all year and is now unlikely to pitch at all in 2024, even if the Astros make a deep postseason run.

Houston Astros right-hander Penn Murfee (elbow), who threw 19 pitches (12 strikes) while starting for Single-A Fayetteville in a minor-league rehab game last Thursday at Augusta, had a sore arm after the outing and the Astros plan to hold him back a day or two. Murfee allowed four earned runs on three hits and one walk, striking out one in his rehab outing, which was his first outing in a game since having UCL surgery in June of last year. He was acquired off waivers from the Atlanta Braves in late March. It remains to be seen when the 30-year-old will make his next rehab appearance, but the Astros aren't going to rush him back. However, barring another setback with his surgically repaired right arm, Murfee figures to be an option for the big-league bullpen to close out the year or in the postseason if the Astros can hang on and win the American League West yet again.