Murr is the 16th DMACC baseball player to be drafted since 2009
Former DMACC baseball standout Austin Murr has been drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft.
Murr, an outfielder and first baseman, was taken in the sixth round and was the 165th player taken in the draft. He is the 16th DMACC baseball player to be drafted by a Major League team since 2009. Three other DMACC players have signed free agent contracts with Major League teams since 2009.
“Everything moved too quickly on draft day,” Murr said. “I got a call from the Tigers and I felt it was the best thing for me. I’m looking forward to getting back to work and climbing the ranks again like I did at the college level.
Murr, who was taken as an outfielder by the Tigers, played at DMACC in 2017-18 and 2018-19, earning third-team All-American honors in 2018-19. He was named to the all-region first team and the all-region academic second team as a freshman and was named to the North Plains District All-District Team and the all-region first team as a sophomore. Other honors included being named to the all-region academic first team and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Academic Third Team as a sophomore.
Murr transferred to North Carolina State following his two seasons at DMACC and helped the Wolfpack to the 2021 College World Series. They won their first two games and were one win away from playing for the national championship when COVID-19
interrupted and the team was sent home, leaving defending champion Vanderbilt University and Mississippi State University to play for the title.
Murr started 53 of 54 games for NC State and batted .319 with 74 hits in 232 at-bats. His batted leadoff and his hits included 15 doubles, three triples and seven home runs. He drove in 32 runs and scored 54 runs.
“My goal was to play at the NCAA Division I level and compete for a national championship and we sure did that,” Murr said. “It was incredible to achieve that. I’m thankful for the run we had and for everybody at DMACC. I wouldn’t have had the success I’ve had at NC State without (DMACC head and assistant baseball coaches) and I’m thankful for the opportunity.”
“The biggest thing with Austin is he’s obviously a very skilled player,” DMACC baseball coach Nic Mishler said. “You don’t go to the (Atlantic Coast Conference), hit leadoff and do as well as he did without being very skilled.”
Mishler said Murr’s leadership is the best he has ever been around.
“It’s unbelievable how good (Murr’s leadership) is,” Mishler said. “He had the unique ability to not have his best at-bat and he would come back to the dugout and give guys information. He would be just as upset as the next guy that he didn’t have a great at-bat, but he would never show it. He’s a special person as much as he is baseball player.”
Mishler said he actually tried to recruit Murr during his time as an assistant coach at Valparaiso University. Murr chose DMACC instead and the following season Mishler joined the Bears staff as an assistant coach and became the head coach in 2019-20.
“He’s very athletic,” Mishler said of Murr. “I know (Detroit) drafted him as an outfielder and he’ll be more than good enough out there. He runs well and his range will be good. We couldn’t be more proud and happy for him.”
Murr said he has no issues with becoming an outfielder. He said he was slated for right field as a sophomore at DMACC before the team’s other first baseman suffered an injury, sending Murr back to first base.
“I’ve become very comfortable at first, but whatever they need me to do, I know I can play anywhere,” Murr said. “In my mind, if I can hit, I’ll keep moving up and they’ll find a spot for me.”
Murr said he plans to sign with the Detroit organization and he expects that to happen in the next week or two.
