WSU's Murphy Taken in 3rd Round of MLB Draft by Oakland

SEACAUCUS, N.J. -- Wright State catcher Sean Murphy was taken in the third round of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft by the Oakland Athletics.

Murphy, a three-time All-Horizon League selection, fought through injuries his junior year to post a .287 batting average with six homeruns and 34 runs batted in. Of Murphy, Major League Baseball scouting services said, "Murphy could have the strongest arm among the 2016 Draft's catchers, with multiple evaluators rating it as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He's more athletic than most backstops and has the receiving and blocking skills to stay behind the plate. His bat speed and strength give Murphy solid power potential from the right side of the plate."

Murphy is the highest pick from the Horizon League since UIC's Curtis Granderson was taken in the 3rd Round, 80th overall, in the 2002 MLB Draft.. The catcher joins fellow Raider Joe Smith (3rd Round, 94th overall) as Wright State alums taken in the third round and is the first Raider position player to be drafted since second baseman Aaron Fields was chosen by the Cleveland Indians in the 42nd round of the 2010 draft. He is the second-highest WSU player ever drafted, only behind pitcher Brian Anderson, who was selected with the third overall pick by the California Angels in 1993.

Murphy drove in seven runs in the four-game series at Elon to start the 2016 season, had four hits and three RBI in three games at North Carolina State and had five RBI in a doubleheader at Oakland.  He had three hits with two RBI and two runs scored against UIC in the Horizon League Tournament and recorded five hits in last week's NCAA Regional in Louisville, including two hits with two RBI in a 7-3 win over #20 Ohio State and two hits with a RBI in a 10-3 decision against Western Michigan.

Murphy was a First Team All-League honoree in 2015 as he hit .329 with four home runs, 36 RBI and 52 runs scored.  In 2014, he was named to the league's All-Freshman Team as he hit .301 with four home runs, 35 RBI and 39 runs scored.

Wright State has now had 26 players drafted all-time, starting with Raider Hall of Famer Bob Grote, who was picked in the 12th round by the New York Mets.