Ben Lomond’s Tanner Murray, a junior shortstop at UC Davis, made the cut in the shortest draft in MLB history.
The slick-fielding, 6-foot-2 shortstop was chosen by the Tampa Bay Rays in the fourth round of MLB’s First-Year Player Draft on Thursday night.
“It was one of the most exciting moments of my life, if not the most exciting,” Murray said. “It was pretty surreal and awesome to hear my name called.”
He was selected 125th overall, which holds an approximate pick value of $455,600.
Though he has two years of college eligibility remaining, Murray said he plans to sign a professional contract.
“I want to go,” he said. “It’s time. I want to go see what I can do.”
Murray celebrated in Davis. His roommates poured water on his head when his named was announced and his parents, Scott and Chantel, showered him with confetti.
Murray said he had no idea when he might be chosen. He was expecting to go in the fifth, and final, round.
“I knew there was interest,” he said. “But I didn’t know when, where and all that. The nerves were going. I couldn’t feel my legs. Once I heard my name, the feeling in my legs came back.”
Murray believes the Rays present a perfect opportunity for him to advance within the farm system and, he hopes, reach the major leagues.
“They fit my my playing style,” he said. “They’re rebuilding. They have a bunch of young guys.”
The draft was shortest in MLB history. It was shortened from 40 to five rounds due to ramifications caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Over the past 2 1/2 seasons with the Aggies, Murray posted a .342 career average (157 for 458) with 44 extra-base hits. He also had success on the base paths with 21 steals in 29 attempts.
Murray competed in the prestigious Cape Cod League last summer.
“The superlatives all play with him,” Aggies coach Matt Vaughn said Sunday. “I just love the way he plays the game. He’s kinda a joy.”
Vaughn said of Murray’s bat: “He’s an incredible offensive player.” And of his defense, Vaughn said: “He makes all the plays.”
Vaughn said Murray is one of his favorite players in his 33 seasons affiliated with the team. “He taught me to have more fun with the game,” the coach said.
Murray often danced between innings at stadiums with quality sounds systems.
“If you do that, you better be backing it up,” the coach said. “He backed it up and then some.”
Murray’s professional future was a foregone conclusion in his coach’s eyes.
Murray asked Vaughn when UC Davis was going to get a better sound system and the coach retorted, “When you sign your pro contract and donate back to us.”
Vaughn on Sunday said of Murray, “He’s ready.”
Murray is the highest drafted SLV alumnus since USC pitcher Tyler Gilbert was taken in the sixth round by Philadelphia in 2015. He’s also the second shortstop in as many years from the Santa Cruz County taken in the fourth round. Santa Cruz High’s Glenallen Hill Jr. was the 122nd pick last season, going to Arizona.
