September 10, 2025 • 9 mins
Astros star reliver Jayden Murray joins Wex and AC to discuss his journey to the big leauges, relationships in the clubhouse, a push to the postseason and more!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
It is the eight team Sports Sox seven to ninety.
We'll be on Space City home network at the top
of the hour. Adam Clanton here, Adam Wexler over there
and has promised joined by Astro's pitcher Jaden Murray, who
it's a limited resume, admittedly, but in a season like this, Jaden,
it hardly surprises me that you've already been able to
(00:32):
contribute to the team. Have you ever we were just
talking about this last segment. Have you ever seen anything
like the amount of injuries, both pitchers and otherwise to
a team like the Astros here in twenty twenty five?
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Man, I have not, But I mean I wish the
best lots of these guys to get healthy and back
on the field and have a fast recovery.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Does it feel like it's like that every day? I
mean last night Luis Garcia the latest example, and obviously
the way things went down last night not a way
you would want to lose a game, not that there's
any good way to lose a game, but what was
the clubhouse like following his departure.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
We wish the best of luck for Garcia and stuff.
It was tough to see him come out of there.
I mean when I was down to Sureland, he came
down and was rehabing down there, and he was looking great,
you know, and just to see that happen just it
was not something we wanted to see. If marleser high
for him, and we're just wishing the best of luck
in past recovery.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
You mentioned something right there, Jaden, down in sugar Land.
This is your first major league call up, and you
come into a clubhouse during the season seemingly with plenty
of people you've played with over the course of time,
and those guys have been up and down you've been.
Now with your opportunity here, was there a little comfort
coming into this clubhouse at the major league level in
(01:50):
season just a little over a week ago for you,
just that you knew some people there.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Yeah, it was good to see some spill, some familiar faces.
That's good friends down here and made the transition a
little easier. But I mean, all these guys are great,
and they've both kneal with open arms, and I just
couldn't think of them.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Enough when you kind of look at your path to
arriving with the Astros, A little bit of a split
here in the minor league system, with the Astros and
obviously where you were initially upon being drafted. Was there
much of a difference with how the teams you've been
with have worked with you and your arsenal and trying
to get the best from you.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
It's been about the same everywhere. The Astros have helped
me a lot this last year forst year being a
reliever and stuff like that. Coaching has been great with me,
helping me, you know, get into the routine of being
a reliever, and it's just been a good transition.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
It's always going to be exciting when you you know,
you work your whole life to get to the major
league level, and it happens more exciting when your family's there.
I imagine, tell me about you your first appearance and
all the everything that went into it and having the
ability to get everyone out there to come see you.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Yeah, it was. It was a rush to get everybody
out there. I mean from a small town in Utah,
so travel isn't easy. They had to book a flight
last second, but I was glad they could make it
out there and to see them in the stands. It
was a surreal feeling. But yeah, it was. It was
good travel for them. And I'm glad they made it.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
So when you say small town, I guess the question
I have to ask is how small?
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Oh we're out in the middle of northeast corner of Utah,
Vernal about ten thousand populations, so pretty small.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
So is this like Saint George, Utah?
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Nope, Vernal, Utah, Utah upright corner of Utah. Yeah, clear
across the state.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
So one stop light or two?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Oh, we got a few. We got a few, small
enough to have one right right.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
You came from a place that used to be called
Dixie State and now it's called Utah Tech. Can't imagine
a ton of scouts we're out there, So how are
you discovered?
Speaker 2 (04:04):
There were few scouts here and there. Talk to a couple,
but they definitely helped me our head coach down there
in the Utah Tech. You know, just going day to time,
just pitching and joining time. Senior year. You know, I
thought that was my last year ball, but everything worked out.
That could have been more grateful.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
How did you kind of lock in on on your opportunity? Uh,
it just happens to come against the Yankees. It obviously
comes in a in a situation not long after you've
gotten the call up here. This team you're on is
trying to win games, and you, I mean from afar,
you looked cool as a cucumber. Firing bbi's at Aaron
Judge and Cody Bellinger, I mean at the zone while
(04:46):
they're at the plate, not literally at them, but you
seemed relaxed and locked in on what you were doing.
How did you feel like you were doing out there?
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Seems so good. Talk to Mr from the bullpen and
you know, he told me just go attack, and I
stuck with that plan, just focused on the catcher and
just went out there and you know, attacked them, just
trusted my stuff and and everything worked out. And yeah,
I mean turn around and seeing the defensive players that
have behind me, you know, Al too, Apainia, Krea Myers
(05:17):
and Center. I mean, it was just it was a
good feeling to have those guys behind me and defending everything,
and it makes it tough not to just go out
there and battle and compete.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
You rattled off some big names there, and obviously we
have had several young pitchers on the show over the
course of the season, and we asked them kind of
a similar question every single time. What is it like,
not only coming into this year's clubhouse, but just that
Astro's clubhouse, the reputation it probably had preceding your time
in it, and seeing some of those veterans that you've
(05:48):
probably seen from afar. What's it like being with them
every day and interacting and what have you learned from
maybe some of them?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
I mean, these guys are awesome. Just some morale in
the locker room every day. It's been good, you know,
teaching me some stuff, talking to me, just keeping me
calm during the big day and and I mean I
couldn't think of enough. They've been awesome and just welcoming,
and yeah, it's been good.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
So as you got, you know, seventeen games left. You know,
we talked about the fact that last night didn't go
the way you wanted it to. The best part about
baseball is there's usually a game the next day to
try and put that behind you. But is that is
that kind of the mood of the team or what
was the mood of the team after a loss last night,
especially the way it unfolded?
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah, you just you you said the best. I mean,
Meril has been high. You know, you got to take
a day at the time. Loss wasn't easy, but we've
got a game today, focused on today's game and got
to move on.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Yeah, Adam was asking you. We got Jake Murray here
with us on Sports Talk seven, ninety Astros reliever. He
was asking you about some of the things as you you're,
you know, harnessing your stuff and working your way to
the majors. You were part of the Rays organization the
COVID season when the Astros and Rays got together in
the postseason and that seven game ALCS just curious what
was twenty twenty like for you as a early in
(07:09):
your professional career with the season the way it was
for a minor leaguer, And secondarily I asked were you
at all paying attention to your parent club playing against
the Astros that deep into the postseason?
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Yeah, Cod COVID was tough. You know. That was my
first would have been my first spring training. We showed
up and they pulled us all in and said, hey,
flying everybody home, it'll be a couple of weeks and
you'll be back. And obviously that didn't work out, you know,
and training from home, trying to stay locked in and
ready just in case. But yes, I did watch games
(07:44):
tried to stay locked in as best as I could,
you know, how to work a little bit when I
was back home, and but it wasn't easy.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
It's a season. We've talked to so many guys who
were here at the time, and obviously it feels like
from a pitching standpoint more than any other, just stunted
so many guys professional growth, not being able to work
with the team. But you're here now and you're talking
about earlier being in the in the bullpen, talking to
Murph and obviously having conversations with the coaches. Is there
a guy or two among the astros bullpen arms you're
out there with every single day you've leaned on more
(08:13):
than another.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Oh yeah, fran Kean talked to him a lot, Steven
Oker talk to him a lot, you know, kind of
go for them for advice and everything like that, and
they've been super helpful. And then my roommate AJ and Blueball,
you know, we've been with him all year, sugar line
and stuff. He's been up and down and it's good
to get to experience this with him. And but yeah,
(08:37):
they've been very helpful.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
So your two major league appearances maybe up against AJ's
appearance yesterday. Are you going to him and say, man,
your stuff looks really good, and he's going up to
you and say, no, no, no, man, your stuff, your stuff
looks very good.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
I mean he's been doing it. He's a good guy,
you know, and we've got along since day one, and
it's just it's good to have him up here. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
I think we had him on the last week. If not,
it was two weeks ago. I'm not sure exactly, but
he he seemed to have the same kind of he's
a great guy. I mean, he feels like he's one
of the more positive guys to be around. Is that
kind of your take on him, since you guys seem
to be close.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Oh yeah, best guy ever, I mean, super down to earth.
He's just a positive guy. And Steve be around talk
to and yeah it's good. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Dixie State product and you dub Milwaukee product throwing baseballs
for the first place team in the American League West.
Everybody knew that would be the case, Jaden. We certainly
appreciate the time, look forward to seeing you. I have
a feeling we might even see you in a few
hours there in Toronto. With how the bullpen was used yesterday,
so best of luck to you the rest of the way,
and certainly appreciate the time.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Well, thank you guys, appreciate it. Thanks for having me
The AD on Sports Talk seven ninety
It is the eight team Sports Sox seven to ninety.
We'll be on Space City home network at the top
of the hour. Adam Clanton here, Adam Wexler over there
and has promised joined by Astro's pitcher Jaden Murray, who
it's a limited resume, admittedly, but in a season like this, Jaden,
it hardly surprises me that you've already been able to
(00:32):
contribute to the team. Have you ever we were just
talking about this last segment. Have you ever seen anything
like the amount of injuries, both pitchers and otherwise to
a team like the Astros here in twenty twenty five?
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Man, I have not, But I mean I wish the
best lots of these guys to get healthy and back
on the field and have a fast recovery.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Does it feel like it's like that every day? I
mean last night Luis Garcia the latest example, and obviously
the way things went down last night not a way
you would want to lose a game, not that there's
any good way to lose a game, but what was
the clubhouse like following his departure.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
We wish the best of luck for Garcia and stuff.
It was tough to see him come out of there.
I mean when I was down to Sureland, he came
down and was rehabing down there, and he was looking great,
you know, and just to see that happen just it
was not something we wanted to see. If marleser high
for him, and we're just wishing the best of luck
in past recovery.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
You mentioned something right there, Jaden, down in sugar Land.
This is your first major league call up, and you
come into a clubhouse during the season seemingly with plenty
of people you've played with over the course of time,
and those guys have been up and down you've been.
Now with your opportunity here, was there a little comfort
coming into this clubhouse at the major league level in
(01:50):
season just a little over a week ago for you,
just that you knew some people there.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Yeah, it was good to see some spill, some familiar faces.
That's good friends down here and made the transition a
little easier. But I mean, all these guys are great,
and they've both kneal with open arms, and I just
couldn't think of them.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Enough when you kind of look at your path to
arriving with the Astros, A little bit of a split
here in the minor league system, with the Astros and
obviously where you were initially upon being drafted. Was there
much of a difference with how the teams you've been
with have worked with you and your arsenal and trying
to get the best from you.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
It's been about the same everywhere. The Astros have helped
me a lot this last year forst year being a
reliever and stuff like that. Coaching has been great with me,
helping me, you know, get into the routine of being
a reliever, and it's just been a good transition.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
It's always going to be exciting when you you know,
you work your whole life to get to the major
league level, and it happens more exciting when your family's there.
I imagine, tell me about you your first appearance and
all the everything that went into it and having the
ability to get everyone out there to come see you.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Yeah, it was. It was a rush to get everybody
out there. I mean from a small town in Utah,
so travel isn't easy. They had to book a flight
last second, but I was glad they could make it
out there and to see them in the stands. It
was a surreal feeling. But yeah, it was. It was
good travel for them. And I'm glad they made it.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
So when you say small town, I guess the question
I have to ask is how small?
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Oh we're out in the middle of northeast corner of Utah,
Vernal about ten thousand populations, so pretty small.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
So is this like Saint George, Utah?
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Nope, Vernal, Utah, Utah upright corner of Utah. Yeah, clear
across the state.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
So one stop light or two?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Oh, we got a few. We got a few, small
enough to have one right right.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
You came from a place that used to be called
Dixie State and now it's called Utah Tech. Can't imagine
a ton of scouts we're out there, So how are
you discovered?
Speaker 2 (04:04):
There were few scouts here and there. Talk to a couple,
but they definitely helped me our head coach down there
in the Utah Tech. You know, just going day to time,
just pitching and joining time. Senior year. You know, I
thought that was my last year ball, but everything worked out.
That could have been more grateful.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
How did you kind of lock in on on your opportunity? Uh,
it just happens to come against the Yankees. It obviously
comes in a in a situation not long after you've
gotten the call up here. This team you're on is
trying to win games, and you, I mean from afar,
you looked cool as a cucumber. Firing bbi's at Aaron
Judge and Cody Bellinger, I mean at the zone while
(04:46):
they're at the plate, not literally at them, but you
seemed relaxed and locked in on what you were doing.
How did you feel like you were doing out there?
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Seems so good. Talk to Mr from the bullpen and
you know, he told me just go attack, and I
stuck with that plan, just focused on the catcher and
just went out there and you know, attacked them, just
trusted my stuff and and everything worked out. And yeah,
I mean turn around and seeing the defensive players that
have behind me, you know, Al too, Apainia, Krea Myers
(05:17):
and Center. I mean, it was just it was a
good feeling to have those guys behind me and defending everything,
and it makes it tough not to just go out
there and battle and compete.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
You rattled off some big names there, and obviously we
have had several young pitchers on the show over the
course of the season, and we asked them kind of
a similar question every single time. What is it like,
not only coming into this year's clubhouse, but just that
Astro's clubhouse, the reputation it probably had preceding your time
in it, and seeing some of those veterans that you've
(05:48):
probably seen from afar. What's it like being with them
every day and interacting and what have you learned from
maybe some of them?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
I mean, these guys are awesome. Just some morale in
the locker room every day. It's been good, you know,
teaching me some stuff, talking to me, just keeping me
calm during the big day and and I mean I
couldn't think of enough. They've been awesome and just welcoming,
and yeah, it's been good.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
So as you got, you know, seventeen games left. You know,
we talked about the fact that last night didn't go
the way you wanted it to. The best part about
baseball is there's usually a game the next day to
try and put that behind you. But is that is
that kind of the mood of the team or what
was the mood of the team after a loss last night,
especially the way it unfolded?
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah, you just you you said the best. I mean,
Meril has been high. You know, you got to take
a day at the time. Loss wasn't easy, but we've
got a game today, focused on today's game and got
to move on.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Yeah, Adam was asking you. We got Jake Murray here
with us on Sports Talk seven, ninety Astros reliever. He
was asking you about some of the things as you you're,
you know, harnessing your stuff and working your way to
the majors. You were part of the Rays organization the
COVID season when the Astros and Rays got together in
the postseason and that seven game ALCS just curious what
was twenty twenty like for you as a early in
(07:09):
your professional career with the season the way it was
for a minor leaguer, And secondarily I asked were you
at all paying attention to your parent club playing against
the Astros that deep into the postseason?
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Yeah, Cod COVID was tough. You know. That was my
first would have been my first spring training. We showed
up and they pulled us all in and said, hey,
flying everybody home, it'll be a couple of weeks and
you'll be back. And obviously that didn't work out, you know,
and training from home, trying to stay locked in and
ready just in case. But yes, I did watch games
(07:44):
tried to stay locked in as best as I could,
you know, how to work a little bit when I
was back home, and but it wasn't easy.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
It's a season. We've talked to so many guys who
were here at the time, and obviously it feels like
from a pitching standpoint more than any other, just stunted
so many guys professional growth, not being able to work
with the team. But you're here now and you're talking
about earlier being in the in the bullpen, talking to
Murph and obviously having conversations with the coaches. Is there
a guy or two among the astros bullpen arms you're
out there with every single day you've leaned on more
(08:13):
than another.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Oh yeah, fran Kean talked to him a lot, Steven
Oker talk to him a lot, you know, kind of
go for them for advice and everything like that, and
they've been super helpful. And then my roommate AJ and Blueball,
you know, we've been with him all year, sugar line
and stuff. He's been up and down and it's good
to get to experience this with him. And but yeah,
(08:37):
they've been very helpful.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
So your two major league appearances maybe up against AJ's
appearance yesterday. Are you going to him and say, man,
your stuff looks really good, and he's going up to
you and say, no, no, no, man, your stuff, your stuff
looks very good.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
I mean he's been doing it. He's a good guy,
you know, and we've got along since day one, and
it's just it's good to have him up here. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
I think we had him on the last week. If not,
it was two weeks ago. I'm not sure exactly, but
he he seemed to have the same kind of he's
a great guy. I mean, he feels like he's one
of the more positive guys to be around. Is that
kind of your take on him, since you guys seem
to be close.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Oh yeah, best guy ever, I mean, super down to earth.
He's just a positive guy. And Steve be around talk
to and yeah it's good. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Dixie State product and you dub Milwaukee product throwing baseballs
for the first place team in the American League West.
Everybody knew that would be the case, Jaden. We certainly
appreciate the time, look forward to seeing you. I have
a feeling we might even see you in a few
hours there in Toronto. With how the bullpen was used yesterday,
so best of luck to you the rest of the way,
and certainly appreciate the time.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Well, thank you guys, appreciate it. Thanks for having me
The AD on Sports Talk seven ninety
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