Braves keep catchers coming with Murphy in Round 4

The Braves took their second catcher in four picks on Friday afternoon, selecting high school backstop Tanner Murphy with the 133rd overall pick in the fourth round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft.

Murphy, from Malden High School in Malden, Mo., signed to play for Southern Illinois after putting up an average over .500, 32 homers and 68 RBIs in his first three years of high school.

This spring, he hit .600 with 10 home runs and 39 RBIs on his way to earning conference player of the year honors.

Murphy was a two-way player throughout high school, compiling a 7-3 record as a starting pitcher with 84 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings pitched as a senior. But with his frame and productive bat, he profiles as a catcher at the next level.

"Our guys really like Murphy as a catcher," Braves scouting director Tony DeMacio said. "Catchers are hard to find."

Atlanta selected Miami-Dade Community College catcher Victor Caratini with its second-round selection on Thursday night.