The state of Georgia will be well represented in the upper rounds of the upcoming MLB Draft, and one player likely to hear his name called very early is Tiftarea senior Hayden Murphy.
A two-way standout for the Panthers, the Auburn baseball commit has helped lead Tiftarea to the semifinal round of the GISA AAA state playoffs this season, making an impact both on the mound and at the plate.
“Hayden is the definition of hard work,” Tiftarea head baseball coach Dusty Griffis said. “Most kids these days want things handed to them. Hayden on the other hand goes out and gets it. His dedication pushes other players around him. He doesn’t always have to be a verbal leader, because his commitment to the game often speaks louder than words can.”
Murphy boasted a .492 average at the plate and a 0.87 ERA and 97 strikeouts on the mound as recently as mid-April. For a great example of his impact and versatility, look no further than the Panthers’ quarterfinal series against Brookwood, in which the senior struck out 17 batters in game one, followed by a walk-off home run in game three.
Murphy has continued to flash the tools that make him one of the state’s top 2022 MLB Draft prospects. He likely will be selected somewhere within the first three to four rounds this summer.
The No. 143 overall prospect available in the 2022 MLB Draft according to MLB Pipeline, Murphy is projected by most scouts to be a pitcher at the next level. With a fastball that has topped 95 mph earlier this season, the 6-foot-3 right-hander has everything needed to succeed at the next level, including three pitches that grade at least a 50 on MLB’s 20/80 scale, led by his changeup at a 60.
“In my 19 years of doing this, I’ve only had a select few that have had potential to reach D1/Professional level,” Griffis said. “Hayden has that ‘it’ – the talent, the projectability, the work ethic, the motivation – to reach those goals.”
While Murphy has the potential to be a top MLB Draft pick, he could decide to take his talents to Auburn as a scholarship player in 2022. He certainly would be a immediate impact player for the Tigers should he go that route.
Regardless of where he’s selected in this summer’s draft, Tiftarea senior Hayden Murphy is yet another name from the Georgia baseball prep ranks who is bound for success at the next level.
