Congrats Tanner Murray! SLV High Alum Drafted by Tampa Bay Rays
By Mary Andersen
Tanner Murray is going places! Just three years into his college baseball career, the UC Davis shortstop and San Lorenzo Valley High School alum was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays baseball organization in the 4th round, 125th overall, in the 2020 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
“Tanner is a baseball player and is ready to play at the next level,” UC Davis head coach Matt Vaughn said. “He plays the game with great joy and he flat out competes. This is well deserved!”
The MLB’s Draft Tracker noted, “Murray has built a reputation for making a ton of contact with excellent plate discipline and terrific hand-eye coordination.” And that “some scouts feel he has a chance to be a very good shortstop defensively.”
Tanner’s UC Davis record was stellar. In his first year, he was named to the Big West Freshman Field Players of the Year and the Collegiate Baseball All-American Team. His sophomore outing was marked by selection to the All Big West Conference First Team and leading stats in offensive categories such as hits, runs, doubles, triples, RBIs, and slugging percentage.
Locally, Tanner was a standout player with SLV Little League and Pony Baseball. Way to go, Tanner!
More info: mlb.com/draft/tracker and ucdavisaggies.com/sports/baseball.
Photos UC Davis Athletics.
