Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Murray Makes Major League Debut
9/2/2026 11:19:00 AM | Baseball
CHICAGO – Former Florida Atlantic infielder BJ Murray became the 16th Owl all-time and the second in 2026 to make his MLB debut when he started at designated hitter for the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.
Murray played three seasons for the Owls from 2019-2021. After seeing limited at-bats as a freshman, his sophomore season was cut to just 15 games by the COVID-19 pandemic. He broke out in 2021, his junior season, putting his name on the Major League Baseball radar. That season, he launched 14 home runs, tallied 52 RBI, and hit .311 in 57 starts.
Murray was selected by the Cubs in the 15th round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft. The native of Nassau, Bahamas, worked his way through the Cubs' minor league system and was hitting .294 with 16 home runs and 68 RBI in Triple-A Iowa when he got the call from the big club on Sunday night.
He debuted on Tuesday, hitting eighth and playing DH for the Cubs in the second game of their NL Central series with the Brewers. Murray went 1-for-4, recording his first major league hit, an infield single, in the sixth inning.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach John McCormack
"I am so happy and proud of BJ. He has worked very hard and paid his dues to earn this opportunity. I have enjoyed watching him rise up and progress through the minor leagues. Now he gets to realize his dream of playing in the majors."
To stay up-to-date with Florida Atlantic baseball players now competing professionally, keep an eye on our Owls in the Pros page and follow Florida Atlantic baseball on social media @faubaseball.
Murray played three seasons for the Owls from 2019-2021. After seeing limited at-bats as a freshman, his sophomore season was cut to just 15 games by the COVID-19 pandemic. He broke out in 2021, his junior season, putting his name on the Major League Baseball radar. That season, he launched 14 home runs, tallied 52 RBI, and hit .311 in 57 starts.
Murray was selected by the Cubs in the 15th round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft. The native of Nassau, Bahamas, worked his way through the Cubs' minor league system and was hitting .294 with 16 home runs and 68 RBI in Triple-A Iowa when he got the call from the big club on Sunday night.
He debuted on Tuesday, hitting eighth and playing DH for the Cubs in the second game of their NL Central series with the Brewers. Murray went 1-for-4, recording his first major league hit, an infield single, in the sixth inning.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach John McCormack
"I am so happy and proud of BJ. He has worked very hard and paid his dues to earn this opportunity. I have enjoyed watching him rise up and progress through the minor leagues. Now he gets to realize his dream of playing in the majors."
To stay up-to-date with Florida Atlantic baseball players now competing professionally, keep an eye on our Owls in the Pros page and follow Florida Atlantic baseball on social media @faubaseball.
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