'We're building something good': Murphy emerging as leader

ANAHEIM -- Given the high volume of rumors involving Sean Murphy in the final days leading up to Tuesday’s Trade Deadline, the A’s likely could have received quite the haul for their budding star catcher.

Ultimately, Oakland’s front office felt Murphy’s importance to a young squad far outweighed whatever package they could get back for him, even as the team goes through a rebuilding season. In Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over the Angels, Murphy’s all-around performance showed just why he was so coveted by contending clubs.

Partaking in the spectacle that is a Shohei Ohtani start on the mound at Angel Stadium, Murphy spoiled the party by driving in all three runs off the Angels two-way sensation with a pair of knocks, including a booming two-run blast in the sixth that registered as the hardest hit of the night at 111.7 mph off the bat and put the A’s ahead for good.

“Murph has been doing a great job offensively over the last two months,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “He’s really put together some great at-bats. Tonight, he basically was a one-man wrecking crew.”

A rough start at the plate that saw Murphy hit just .193 through his first 50 games is what keeps his current overall numbers looking somewhat pedestrian. His production since then, however, is rivaled by only the game’s elite hitters.

Following his two-hit, three-RBI performance on Wednesday, Murphy is now hitting .302 (49-for-162) with eight homers, 11 doubles and 23 RBIs to go with an .894 OPS over his last 45 games. Entering the night, Murphy’s 2.1 fWAR since June 7 was tied for seventh-highest in the American League, behind only stars such as Aaron Judge, Yordan Alvarez and José Abreu.

“Murph’s been pivotal for us all year,” said A’s starter James Kaprielian, who limited the Halos to just one run on six hits and a walk with four strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. “His bat’s really coming along. He does a tremendous job behind the plate. We continue to learn what we expect out of each other every single start we get together on the defensive side. On offense, he obviously picked us up big time tonight. It’s impressive when the ball comes off his bat. Love to see that.”

Of course, Murphy is equally valuable behind the plate. The reigning AL Gold Glove Award winner is often lauded for his defensive brilliance, and that attribute only becomes more crucial in the second half for an A’s pitching staff that lost its most experienced starter and reliever in Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino at the Trade Deadline.

On Wednesday, Murphy guided an all-rookie bullpen foursome of Sam Moll, A.J. Puk, Domingo Acevedo and Zach Jackson, which in relief of Kaprielian combined to hold the Angels hitless and allowed only one walk over the game’s final 3 2/3 innings. Jackson, who could be in line for increased save opportunities with Trivino now gone, finished it off with an impressive two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his third career save.

“It’s huge,” Jackson said of Murphy’s presence. “He studies so much. Something that people just watching games don’t get to see is how much work he puts in before the game understanding the hitters. He’s processed the entire game, what kind of swings they’re taking. When we go out there, whatever he calls, we’re going to trust him.

“It makes a huge difference when somebody like him, who has the experience he has, takes control of some of us younger guys and makes sure we trust him.”

Despite the A’s being in a much different spot than they were in their playoff-contending past few seasons, Murphy is thrilled to remain in Oakland for at least the rest of this season. Not too long ago, he was the young rookie looking up to established leaders like Marcus Semien, Matt Chapman and Matt Olson. A few years later, the 27-year-old has inherited that leadership role, embracing the chance to help the many inexperienced players on the roster find their way as big leaguers.

“I’m happy to be an A,” Murphy said. “This is the organization that drafted me and has given me opportunities. We’re building something good and we’re playing better baseball. It is a compliment to be on the trading block or whatever it’s called, but I’m just so happy to be here.”