Jayden Murray #70

A native of Vernal, Utah, Murray graduated from Uintah High School...Vernal is located in northeast Utah, approximately 20 miles from the Colorado border and three hours from Salt Lake City...Began his collegiate career with Arizona Western College (Yuma, Ariz.)...went 11-3 with two saves and a 3.12 ERA in his lone season...Transferred to Utah Tech (St. George, Utah) for the 2018-19 seasons...in 2019, set Utah Tech's single-season records in strikeouts (92) and SO/9IP (9.93)...also tied the program record with 10 wins in 2019, while posting a 3.78 ERA through 14 starts...ended his Utah Tech career with the program record for SO/9IP (8.39), while finishing fourth in strikeouts (138) and tied for fourth in wins (13)...had his No. 35 retired by Utah Tech in a ceremony prior to the school's alumni game in February 2026...Selected by the Rays in the 23rd round of the 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft...Just ahead of the 2022 Trade Deadline, the Astros, Rays and Orioles connected on a three-team deal, which brought slugging first baseman Trey Mancini from Baltimore and Murray, a Minor Leaguer in the Rays system, to Houston...the Astros sent OF Jose Siri to Tampa Bay and Minor Leaguer RHP Chayce McDermott to Baltimore to complete the deal...Received an invite to Major League Spring Training in 2023 but had his season cut short while with Triple A Sugar Land due to surgery to repair Thoracic Outlet Syndrome...went on to make just two appearances in 2024, both with the FCL Astros, while recovering from the surgery, along with an ulnar nerve injury...Murray is joined by bullpen mate LHP Bennett Sousa who has undergone the rare thoracic outlet surgery, which relieves compression in the thoracic outlet (near the collarbone and first rib) and usually involves the removal of the first rib: "You can talk to 10 different people that have had TOS symptoms or the surgery and everybody’s symptoms are going to be different...I’m very grateful that the team stuck with me," Murray told the Houston Chronicle in September 2025 upon his promotion to the Majors...Made his MLB debut on Sept. 4, 2025, vs. the Yankees at Daikin Park, and was greeted by Aaron Judge as the first batter of his career...he retired the three-time American League MVP on a fly out as part of a scoreless and hitless 1.1 innings of work.

2025

Transitioned into a full-time reliever and reached the Majors for the first time, recording a 1.54 ERA (two ER/11.2 IP), .227 opponent batting average (10-for-44), 1.11 WHIP and two holds in nine appearances (one start) to close out the regular season...Was scoreless through his first seven Major League appearances (9.1 IP)...became the fifth pitcher in Astros history, and the first since RHP Andre Scrubb (2020), to record at least seven consecutive scoreless appearances to open their career...His 1.54 ERA was the fourth-lowest among AL rookies in September...Held left-handed hitters to a .167 opponent average (3-for-18) during his time in the Majors...Made his Major League debut on Sept. 4 vs. NYY, with 1.1 scoreless and hitless innings...picked up his first career strikeout vs. IF José Caballero...Logged his first career Major League start on Sept. 12 at ATL, working three scoreless innings...Was selected to the active roster on Sept. 3 and spent the rest of the season with the Major League club...Spent the bulk of his season with Triple A Sugar Land where he posted a 4.64 ERA (33 ER/64 IP) with 66 strikeouts, a 1.33 WHIP and .239 opponent average in 50 appearances...Ranked second in the Pacific Coast League in appearances and ranked second in all of Minor League Baseball in appearances at the time his contract was selected.

2022

In 2022, he made the most of his appearances in Double A along with one appearance at Triple A... recorded a 3.50 ERA (42ER/108IP) with 34 walks, 99 strikeouts, a .236 opponent batting average and a 1.21 WHIP in 23 games (22 starts)..

2021

For the 2021 season, he went 8-3 with a 2.16 ERA (23ER/96IP, 23-ER) in 20 starts between High-A Bowling Green and Double-A Montgomery, earning a July 20 promotion…ranked first among minor league pitchers in WHIP (0.71) and third in ERA (min. 90 IP)…ranked tied for third among Rays minor leaguers in wins and tied for eighth with 96 SO…named the High-A East Pitcher of the Month for June and the Double-A South Pitcher of the Month for August…ranked by Baseball America as the No. 30 prospect in the Rays system following the season…the publication also tabbed him as having the Best Control in High-A East in its Best Tools survey.

2020

Did not appear in a game in 2020 due to the pandemic-shortened season.

2019

In his first professional season in 2019, he made 12 appearances including nine starts between Rookie Level Princeton and Class A Hudson Valley...he recorded a 2.45 ERA (11ER/40.1IP) with 47 strikeouts, a 0.97 WHIP and a .212 opponent batting average.