By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Just over a week after he was selected in the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft, BJ Murray made it official with the Chicago Cubs.

Murray was one of several new prospects that agreed to terms with the organisation yesterday and signed on to join the franchise’s farm system, the first step in their professional careers.

Murray, the third baseman out of Florida Atlantic University, was selected by the Cubs on July 12 with the 22nd pick in the 15th round, no. 454 overall.

“It feels great. I’m so excited to be a Cub,” Murray told the Palm Beach Post, “I’ve never been to Chicago or Wrigley Field, so that’s what I’m looking forward to. I’m a competitor and I play to win.”

Murray had an accolade filled year in 2021 and received conference-wide recognition for his breakout sophomore season.

He was named a 2021 All-Conference USA second-team selection as voted on by league coaches, SID’s and media members.

Murray’s 14 home runs led the Owls and finished second in C-USA and 32nd in all of NCAA Division I. In 53 games, all starts, Murray hit .316 and also led the team with 116 total bases and slugging percentage (.601). He finished second on the Owls in OPS (1.029), runs scored (46), hits (61) and RBI (53). His 51 RBI was sixth in C-USA and 49th nationally. He was also third in C-USA with 38 walks, and is sixth in slugging. Other C-USA ranks are seventh in total bases, 11th in hits, 12th in runs, and 13th in OBP. He hit a home run in each game of a road series against eventual C-USA regular season champion Charlotte, and two more the next weekend against Old Dominion. Nine of his 14 home-runs have come against C-USA teams, second among league hitters. Murray also finished with 19 multi-hit games on the season.

Once he matriculated to the United States, Murray completed his high school athletic and academic career with the Trinity Christian Academy Warriors where he hit .384 with two home runs as a senior.

In his freshman season with the programme, he appeared in 19 games with six starts. Murray started each of the 15 games of his sophomore season before the pandemic brought a halt to the 2020 season.

He hit .203 with 12 hits, 10 RBI, a team leading three home runs, 11 runs scored, and a .299 on base percentage.

Defensively he had a .958 fielding percentage with 30 assists, 16 putouts, and just two errors.