William Penn Murfee...graduated from Montgomery Bell Academy (TN) in 2013...attended Vanderbilt University (TN) for 3 seasons (2015-17) before transferring to Santa Clara University (CA) for his senior season (2018)...played his first two seasons as an infielder before converting to pitcher...avid guitar player as a hobby.
2022
Went 4-0 with a 2.99 ERA (23 ER, 69.1 IP) with 18 walks and 76 strikeouts in 64 games (one start)...Elite Rookie Reliever - Became third Mariners rookie in franchise history to post a sub-3.00 ERA, sub-.200 opponent batting average and sub-1.00 WHIP, joining Joel Piñeiro (2001) and Rafael Soriano (2003)...Ranked in the 97th percentile in hard-hit percentage and 95th percentile in average exit velocity per Baseball Savant…led MLB rookies in hard-hit percentage (30.1/97th percentile)...Recorded a strikeout in 20 consecutive outings from June 1-July 17, longest streak by a Mariners reliever in 2022...the 20-game streak ranks second-longest strikeout streak by a reliever in Mariners history, trailing only Rafael Soriano’s 21-game strikeout streak from July 20-Sept. 12, 2003...Made his first career start on June 18 when he started the second game of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Angels…pitched 2.0 scoreless innings and allowed one walk while striking out two...His 4-seam fastball (-4) and slider (-8) both registered negative run values according to Baseball Savant’s run value metric...Posted a 2.36 ERA (9 ER, 34.1 IP) in 31 road appearances and a 3.60 ERA (14 ER, 35.0 IP) in 33 home appearances...Made his Major League debut April 29 where he pitched 2.0 scoreless innings and struck out two.
2021
Went 7-3 with a 4.23 ERA (37 ER, 78.2 IP) with 35 walks and 97 strikeouts in 26 games (14 starts) between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma...named Texas League Pitcher of the Week on June 20 and named Texas League Pitcher of the Month in June... in 4 June starts, went 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA (4 ER, 26.0 IP) with 7 walks and 30 strikeouts including a 9.0-inning, complete game shutout on June 18 vs. Tulsa.
2020
Did not appear due to the cancellation of the minor league season (COVID-19).
2019
Earned the "60 ft. 6 in. Club" Award after being recognized as the pitcher in the Mariners organization that best embodied the Control the Zone philosophy...spent most of the year with High-A Modesto…also appeared in 5 games with Triple-A Tacoma (4/9-22) and 1 game with Double-A Arkansas (5/19)…combined to go 6-5, 3.57 (45 ER, 113.1 IP) with 136 strikeouts and 31 walks in 32 games (20 GS)…All-Arizona Fall League Team as the league's top starter after posting a 1.23 ERA and striking out 30 in 22.0 innings (MLB Pipeline).
2018
Began pro career with Short-A Everett, going 3-2 , 6.55 (24 ER, 33.0 IP) in 19 games.