New Hot-Hitting Cubs Prospect That You Need to Learn About

This year was the first time I got into the World Baseball Classic and because of it I started to pay closer attention to some Chicago Cubs prospects that at least to me were under the radar or just unknown. There's been one guy who I was intrigued most by because you don't normally see prospects with great plate discipline, but now BJ Murray Jr. is adding more power to his approach at the plate and is starting to break out in the minors.

The 23-year-old played for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic back in March and for a lot of Cubs fans, myself included, it was the first time seeing Murray play. The switch-hitter had a couple doubles during the pool play in the WBC and he also got on base a few more times with a pair of walks. The Cubs drafted Murray in the 15th round out of Florida Atlantic in 2021, and after playing in 16 games in the Arizona Complex League that summer, Murray spent his first full pro year at Single-A, splitting time at Myrtle Beach and South Bend in 2022.

Overall in 95 games, Murray had a slash line of .286/.410/.439, with 8 home runs, 19 doubles and a triple in 385 plate appearances. But again, looking back at his numbers, one thing stood out and it was Murray's .410 OBP. Murray had matching 16.1 walk rates in 39 games at Low-A and in 56 games at Advanced A-Ball in his first full pro year playing minor league baseball.

In 2023, the. Cubs assigned Murray to Double-A, with the Tennessee Smokies and guess what, his good eye at the plate hasn't gone away against tougher competition. So far in 32 games, Murray has a 19 percent walk rate and he already has six home runs in 137 plate appearances that's led to an .876 OPS and 145 wRC+.

And this is why I will always like players who show the ability to contribute on offense even when they're not hitting. Murray wasn't exactly turning heads to begin the season, as he only put up a .212 batting average in 20 games during April. Despite that, Murray still posted a .376 OBP that month because he walked 17 times.

If you dig a little more, it was really only two bad weeks to begin the season for Murray because here's what he's done since April 20.

BJ Murray Jr. Stats Since April 20
21 Games, 92 Plate Appearances
.292/.435/.569, 1.004 OPS, 176 wRC+
5 HR, 16 RBI, 12 R, 5 2B, 20 K, 17 BB

Looking at just the month of May, Murray has been one of the top hitters in the Cubs system.

BJ Murray Jr. Stats in May
12 Games, 52 Plate Appearances
.286/.423/.690, 1.114 OPS, 198 wRC+
5 HR, 12 RBI, 9 R, 2 2B, 11 K, 9 BB

And despite his dreadful April batting average wise, Murray will head into Tuesday as the Cubs 9th most productive hitter in the minors.

This past Friday, Murray hit two home runs from the right side of the plate.

The night before, he hit one out from the left-side of the plate.

Defensively, Murray hasn't found a set position this year, starting two games at second, 10 at first, 12 at third and eight starts as the DH for the Tennessee Smokies.

Maybe a summer promotion to Triple-A is next up for BJ Murray Jr.