OAKLAND — A’s manager Bob Melvin was a catcher, and so was Ray Fosse, the team’s radio and TV analyst. And they both like 24-year-old Sean Murphy, who was making his major league debut Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Angels.
“He hits, he hits for power, he takes his defense seriously — he’s a defense-first guy. He frames (pitches) really well, he’s got a really strong throwing arm, loves being the quarterback and leading the way,” Melvin said. “A lot to like.”
Fosse, a former two-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, is most concerned with how well a catcher handles his various assignments behind the plate.