April 4 — Owen Murphy

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with starting pitcher Owen Murphy at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia. 

Murphy discussed his dominant Double-A debut on Opening Night, striking out 10 over 5.2 innings to set a new single-game record in Columbus history, how he regrouped after an early home run to settle into the outing, and the moment he realized he had his best stuff working. He also reflected on the atmosphere of Opening Night, his continued progression following Tommy John surgery, his experience in Major League spring training, and what the ballpark environment in Columbus meant to him in his first appearance.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Back on the Columbus Klingstones pregame show ahead of this Saturday night matchup between the Klingstones and the Lookouts. But first, we turn our attention back to last night and the magnificent start from Owen Murphy. Ten strikeouts over five and two-thirds. That was your double-A debut, man. It didn't get off to the best start. How did you turn it around after those first two batters?

SPEAKER_01 0:19

Yeah, I know you mean you know, I mean, someone hits a bomb off of you, you just kind of got to wash it. So uh yeah, just washed it, came right back at them, uh, and just kept doing that throughout the whole game. Just wanted my guys to get back in the dugout as quick as possible.

SPEAKER_00 0:33

After that home run by Balcazar in the first inning, what was either the internal monologue or what was the cue that you looked to to say, I'm gonna get locked back in here?

SPEAKER_01 0:44

Yeah, for sure. Uh first of all, it's taking a deep breath, being re-centered in the moment. Uh, and then it was just one pitch at a time, like let's just focus in on what we need to do, what we need to execute, this this next pitch, this next pitch, whatever it is, and then you know, that turns into six innings, five innings, and yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:03

Six strikeouts in a row. At what point do you think to yourself, and I've got it tonight, I've got the good stuff.

SPEAKER_01 1:09

Uh, I mean, after that first one, to be honest. The first K, you're like, alright, sweet, I got it. Like, you know, you get punched in the mouth like that, you're like, alright, like, is my stuff there? Is it not? But then, you know, once you start rolling, make guys look a little silly, then it's like, alright, yep, got it. Double A debut.

SPEAKER_00 1:27

At what point, if there was one last night, did you kind of look around, take a second, and think, I've made it. This is double A. This is next step on my journey.

SPEAKER_01 1:37

Yeah, for sure. I mean, uh, got to take a deep breath out in the outfield while I was warming up, which is really nice. Take it in. People walking in, coming in, and uh, and starting to buy their food, their beer, and all that kind of stuff. You just hear the buzz in the atmosphere opening day. It's like, oh man, take a deep breath in, look down, see him wearing the peach unis, you know, it was awesome.

SPEAKER_00 1:56

What did you think of the overall experience of pitching here in Columbus for the first time? We talked about it a little bit before this conversation, but the atmosphere, the energy, it's palpable here.

SPEAKER_01 2:05

Oh, absolutely. 100%. The fans, as I've said before, or as I've been told before, are amazing. And, you know, getting to experience it last night was just awesome. Like everyone's on our side, and everyone's just like it was just such a nice buzz in the air. And I mean, you're even feeling it right now. We're outside right now, and uh, there's some music going and everything. People are standing around waiting to get in. It's awesome.

SPEAKER_00 2:26

Yeah, well, we got first pitch at 6.05. It's 4.13 as we're recording this. We've already got fans lining up for the Saturday night matchup. So, after last year, recovering from Tommy John surgery to get back to Rome, make a bunch of successful starts. Where do you feel you're at in the recovery process and just getting back to where you ultimately wanted to be when you first had that surgery?

SPEAKER_01 2:49

Yeah, you know, I mean, it's a step-by-step process, just like, you know, even if I didn't have the surgery, it'd be the same way, just trying to get better every day, but at the same time, like, just as like when I came back after my surgery, I feel like I've got all my stuff, and it's just about, you know, feeling consistent each week and going out and posting a good start.

SPEAKER_00 3:05

In spring training, getting to appear in big league games, also just to be in big league camp, what was that experience like? What were you hoping to get out of it, and then what did you feel like you took away from it?

SPEAKER_01 3:16

Yeah, you know, I mean the biggest thing was just being around those guys and seeing what they do day to day and everything like that. And you know, uh, it was just so cool to also pitch in that environment as well, where you've got a little bit more pressure and everything, you know, coming out of the bullpen, uh making some like reliever appearances and all that kind of stuff. It just a lot of fun, a lot of fun. And you know, the guys take you under your wings if you're a young guy and everything, and our clubhouse up there is just like any other minor league clubhouse, like all the guys are so tight and just like love the game, so it was just so nice.

SPEAKER_00 3:48

So, you grew up in Chicago. What is the number one favorite core memory you have as a Chicago sports fan growing up?

SPEAKER_01 3:57

Oh man, you know what? It was probably the first time I ever got to experience Wrigley, like being you know, conscious. Like my parents took me there when I was a bit younger, but I don't really remember. But first time I got to experience Wrigley, I mean, like it's just it's different. I walked in and like I don't know, some took me over. I think I was like 11, 12 years old, and I just started crying. It was crazy. And then I was like, oh my gosh, it just made me love the game even more. And at that point I knew that like baseball was like on a different level for me, just the summer and everything, being out of school, being able to enjoy time with my friends, but then like the game really just took over after that visit to Wrigley.

SPEAKER_00 4:37

So have you ever had an experience like that? Because I completely get what you're saying. When you walk into a big league ballpark and you're able to understand, even just a little amount as a kid about the history and the importance of the place where you're at. Have you ever had another experience like that in your life?

SPEAKER_01 4:54

No, only with Wrigley. It's seriously like, I mean, every time I go back to that ballpark, I I got uh the opportunity to go back um this offseason, uh, right before the uh they went to the wild card and everything like that, just to go and see the game of my parents and everything like that, and just walk back in the ballpark, same feeling. Like it's just uh some something different about Wrigley. I just I love that place, but yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:16

So Gary Bauman's going tonight. He's the number 12 prospect in your organization. You guys are both top 30 prospects. Your your track, your path has been similar coming up through the Braves organization to get here. Tonight is his double-A debut. What should fans expect from Garrett Bauman?

SPEAKER_01 5:32

Domination. He's a man. I mean, he's uh he's super tall, crazy high slot. It's the it's the greatest to watch. So it's gonna be a lot of fun tonight. And uh I our bats are gonna do the same thing as last night. We're gonna post up some runs, so it'll be a fun one.

SPEAKER_00 5:45

Klingstones played 135 games last year. Nobody had 10 strikeouts until yourself. So a dominant outing to make your double A debut. Owen, congratulations. I look forward to watching you throughout this 2026 season. Yeah, thank you very much. All right, that was starting pitcher Owen Murphy on the Klingstones free game show.