12-Year MLB Veteran Ends Retirement; Signs In Independent League


Former Major League Baseball player Daniel Murphy has signed a contract with the Long Island Ducks, an independent team in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

The 37-year-old player retired from the sport in 2021 after a career that included three All-Star selections and two Silver Slugger awards.

Murphy expressed his passion for baseball in a statement, stating that it is an integral part of his soul. He also revealed that he had discovered certain things that would enable him to be productive on the field again.

The former New York Mets player spent seven of his 12 seasons with the team, earning an All-Star selection in 2014 and helping lead the team to a World Series appearance in 2015, where he was named the NLCS MVP.

Perhaps, his most productive stretch came with the Washington Nationals, however, as he compiled a .326/.376/.542 triple-slash line, with 60 home runs, 239 RBIs, and 222 runs scored over 377 games across three seasons with the club.

He secured two All-Star nominations, two Silver Slugger awards, and finished 2nd and 19th in MVP voting in back-to-back seasons with the Nationals.

The Long Island Ducks expressed their excitement at having Murphy join the team and stated that they were looking forward to seeing him compete in front of New York fans once again.

Although Murphy's age and time away from the game mean that he will likely need to perform well in the Atlantic League for at least a few weeks before potentially returning to affiliated ball, he is expected to make an impact in the independent league.

Over his 12-year MLB career, the 37-year-old holds an impressive .296/.341/.455 triple-slash line, with 138 home runs, 735 RBIs, 68 stolen bases and 710 runs scored across 1,452 games played. Photo Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports