FELTON — Chicago White Sox left fielder Tanner Murray, 27, a former three-sport standout at San Lorenzo Valley High, will have his high school baseball jersey number (No. 2) retired during a halftime ceremony at the Cougars’ football game on Saturday.
He joins former MLB pitcher Tyler Gilbert, 32, as the Cougars’ only two alums to have their baseball numbers retired.
Murray, who went on to shine as walk-on at NCAA Division I UC Davis and made his MLB debut earlier this season, also played football and basketball at SLV.
“It’s a pretty cool honor,” said Murray, who will fly out from Fort Worth, Texas, with his girlfriend for the ceremony. “I’m grateful to have Sutty (Shane Sutcliffe) as a coach and mentor coming up, letting me be myself, and giving me the opportunity to play my game — it turned out pretty well. It’s just awesome I get to represent SLV baseball for … forever.”
It’ll be an eventful afternoon for the Cougars (2-5 overall, 1-1 league), who host Monte Vista Christian (5-2, 1-1) on their senior day, which is also the program’s emotional David Maze memorial game. Kickoff is slated for 12:30 p.m.
Sutcliffe said the decision to retire Murray’s jersey didn’t take much thought.
A standout in baseball, basketball and football, San Lorenzo Valley High alum Tanner Murray was the Sentinel’s Athlete of the Year in 2016-17, one of his many accolades that year (Dan Coyro — Santa Cruz Sentinel file)
“Automatic,” the longtime coach said. “I think if any kid makes the major leagues. I was thinking about it and it’s so hard to make the major leagues, man. Only 26,000 have ever done it, something like that. Some crazy number. I think it’s a no-brainer. I think just support these kids; their journeys are crazy, all around our league. It’s so cool to honor the kids. It’s just a feat. I’ve seen so many great ball players come through our community and I thought, ‘Oh, yeah,’ but these guys are just elite. … It’s just good for these guys to be recognized for all of that hard work.”
Murray played varsity baseball for 2 1/2 seasons. The 2017 Cougars alum batted .412 (71 for 172) in his career and possessed magnificent range and one of the flashiest gloves around. He played third base and left field as a sophomore, and shortstop and second after that.
He was selected the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League’s MVP and a Cal-Hi Sports’ All-State first-team honoree following his senior season. That year, he batted .457 (32 for 70) with 18 RBI, 13 stolen bases, and 14 runs scored for the Cougars (12-11, 9-3), who won the SCCAL title and advanced to the Central Coast Section playoffs. He was also named the Sentinel’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2016-17.
Murray said knocking off powerful Santa Cruz to win the league title as a senior was his fondest baseball memory.
“It was kinda a crazy, back-and-forth battle,” he said. “Winning that and celebrating with my boys, that was pretty cool.”
He said his favorite play came while playing shortstop against rival Scotts Valley. He sprinted past second base to record a diving catch on a pop fly to shallow right field.
“That was probably the coolest play I made,” he said. “I knew the sun was in the second baseman’s eyes and the right fielder’s eyes. And I could see it, so I just went and got it.”
Murray, a fourth round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 MLB Draft, made his MLB debut with the Chicago White Sox on April 5.
Murray’s high school and pro jerseys will be framed and hung inside the school’s gymnasium. His retired number will also be displayed on the outfield fence.
Sutcliffe said he has several old photos of Murray that he’ll display at Saturday’s ceremony, which he hopes will inspire the Cougars’ next generation of aspiring professional athletes.
“I have some photos of Tanner as a football player, a basketball player …” Sutcliffe said, “so they can see that he’s just a kid, in a classroom, and with a dream. And it came true.”
The White Sox (84-78 overall) finished second to Cleveland (85-77) in the AL Central Division and reached the AL Division Series this season.
Murray sustained a season-ending left shoulder dislocation and fracture that required surgery while making a diving catch on April 26. He said that he has fully recovered from the injury and is poised for next season to begin.
“It’s the only thing that made it worth it,” Murray said of his catch. “If I miss that ball and it went to the wall and I was down for the count, it would’ve been a way longer road to recovery. At least I made the catch to at least make it worthwhile.”
IF YOU GO
Tanner Murray baseball jersey retirement
When: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
Where: SLV High football field