Murray doing well in A's system

While the sun was setting on the East Texas Pump Jacks' inaugural season, a new day was dawning for one of the organization's former players.

Justin Murray, who nearly two weeks ago signed with the Oakland A's to become the first Jacks player to go pro, has made his professional debut in the A's system.

Murray has temporarily been assigned to Oakland's affiliate in the rookie-level Arizona League, where he made his first professional appearance on August 1. Facing the San Francisco Giants' affiliate, he went 2-2/3 innings, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out three. He surrendered three runs, but only one of them was earned.

Wednesday night, while his former teammates were in Coppell for Game Two of their playoff series against the Copperheads, Murray made his first professional start. The ex-Jack tossed five innings and allowed three hits in facing the Los Angeles Angels' Arizona League club. Murray surrendered two runs, only one of them earned, but took the loss as the A's fell, 8-2.

In his first two appearances, Murray is 0-1 with a 2.35 ERA. He has pitched 7.2 innings and allowed five hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

Murray was selected in the 29th round of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft in June following his junior season at Kansas State. While negotiating with Oakland, he signed with East Texas, making five starts for the Pump Jacks. He went 0-1 with a 4.45 ERA, allowing just 28 hits in 30.1 innings pitched. He struck out 27, walked five, and held opposing hitters to a .237 batting average.

In his last start, on July 20 against the defending champion Coppell Copperheads, Murray went seven innings and allowed one run on just two hits with an Oakland scout in attendance.

Last summer, Murray gained widespread attention in a breakout season for the McKinney Marshals. He was named the TCL's Pitcher of the Year after going 5-2 with an unheard-of 0.54 ERA. In 50 innings pitched, he allowed merely three earned runs and walked only eight batters while striking out 48. Murray topped the TCL in ERA, tied for the league lead in wins, and finished fourth in strikeouts. Following the season, he was named the league's #3 prospect by Baseball America.

Murray was one of four Pump Jacks players who were picked in the draft in June, and he may not be the only one to go pro this summer. Luke Burnett was the highest selection of the four, having been picked by the Seattle Mariners in the 14th round. He is in continued negotiations with the Mariners, who hope to come to an agreement before the August 15 signing deadline.

Matt Curry, who picked up his second straight TCL All-League selection, was picked by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 37th round. Pitcher Justin Fowler was also tabbed by the Atlanta Braves in the 30th round.

Playoff Update: The McKinney Marshals came back in the third and deciding game of their firstround matchup with the feisty Brazos Valley Bombers to advance to the finals. The Marshals will take on the defending champion Copperheads in a rematch of the 2007 TCL Championship Series. The best-of-three affair will open tonight in Coppell; McKinney will host Game Two on Saturday, as well as a third game on Sunday, if necessary.