Astros Rookie Jayden Murray Impresses in MLB Debut, Opening Start

Jayden Murray, a 28-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Houston Astros, made a notable transition from a starter to a reliever after being drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019 and later traded to Houston in 2022. Despite multiple injuries and surgeries, including thoracic outlet and ulnar nerve operations, Murray returned to play in 2025 primarily out of the bullpen at Triple-A Sugar Land before being called up to the majors. He made his MLB debut on September 4 and quickly established himself as a reliable reliever, delivering scoreless innings against tough opponents like Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees. On September 12, Murray served as the Astros' opener in a bullpen game against the Atlanta Braves, throwing three scoreless innings with only one hit allowed, showcasing his effectiveness in a new role amid the Astros' rotation injuries. The Astros have been relying heavily on their bullpen due to a shortage of healthy starting pitchers, and Murray's ability to pitch multiple innings as an opener makes him an integral part of this strategy. His minor-league stats in 2025 included a 4.64 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 66 strikeouts, and seven holds in 64 innings, underscoring his readiness for major-league competition.