MADISON, AL – Los Angeles Angels right-hander Luke Murphy has been named a 2026 Southern League Postseason All-Star for his standout season with the Rocket City Trash Pandas, where his dominant work out of the bullpen earned him his first Major League promotion.
Murphy went 2-1 with a 0.71 ERA and 18 saves in 34 appearances for Rocket City. He allowed just three earned runs in 38 innings, striking out 47 against 10 walks while posting a 0.82 WHIP. His season included 25 consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run, spanning 27.1 innings.
Murphy led Minor League Baseball in saves when the Angels selected his contract on July 31. He made his Major League debut that night against Milwaukee, throwing a scoreless, hitless inning and recording his first strikeout. He followed with a 1.59 ERA in 11 August appearances, holding opponents to a .143 average.
Murphy joins Eric Torres (2022) and Caden Dana (2024) as the third Trash Pandas pitcher to earn Southern League postseason All-Star honors. His 18 saves rank second in club single-season history behind Torres’s 22 in 2022. At his promotion, Murphy held Rocket City’s career records for appearances (156) and holds (24) and shared the saves record (23).
The Trash Pandas return to Toyota Field tomorrow, Tuesday, September 22, at 6:35 pm with a chance to make more history. Following Sunday’s 5-4 victory in Biloxi, Rocket City needs one win to claim its first Southern League championship. Help pack the park for Game 2 and be part of a potential championship celebration! Game 3, if necessary, follows Wednesday at 6:35 pm.Tickets are available at TPTix.com.
ABOUT THE ROCKET CITY TRASH PANDAS
Owned and operated by BallCorps, LLC, the Rocket City Trash Pandas are the proud Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels in the Southern League. The Trash Pandas play at state-of-the-art Toyota Field in Madison, Alabama. The organization's mission is to unite its communities by creating positive and lasting memories, one experience at a time.