WORCESTER — Etched on Chris Murphy’s baseball hat and glove, and tattooed across his chest, are four words: I play for Jessica.
Jessica was a close family friend and neighbor of Murphy growing up. She died in 2012 at the age of 26 after a battle with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer. Before Jessica passed, Murphy – who was heading into high school at the time – vowed to save her a ticket for his first Major League Baseball game.
On Wednesday, Murphy kept that promise when the 25-year-old made his big-league debut with the Boston Red Sox in Cleveland.
“I knew it was going to be emotional,” Murphy said after the game. “I tried to compartmentalize that but definitely one of those moments where I felt Jessica out there.”
Memories of Jessica
Growing up in California, Murphy and his younger sister had Jessica as a babysitter. She lived down the street and was best friends with Murphy’s older sister.
“She was just over every single day and I would go over to her house and her mom would make me food, great Mexican food,” Murphy recalled. “Those are some of my best memories, going over to her house and her mom cooking for us and just having a good time.”
Even after Jessica’s cancer diagnosis, she still attended most of Murphy’s baseball games. In sixth grade, Murphy started to write ‘I play for Jessica’ under the brim of his hat as an ode to the person he considered a sister.
“Even when she was sick, she made sure to put all of her energy into positive things,” Murphy said.
Keeping his promise
On Monday, Murphy planned to go to an escape room in Boston to celebrate his birthday when the 13th-ranked Red Sox prospect (according to Baseball America) received a surprise call from WooSox manager Chad Tracy.
“(Tracy) says ‘Happy birthday, I have a present you can’t top’ and I’m like ‘OK’ (and) he’s like ‘You’re going to the big leagues,'” Murphy said.
Two days later, Murphy found himself in Cleveland making his major league debut as a member of the Boston Red Sox. The lefty tossed 3⅓ innings of scoreless relief to go along with two hits, one walk and five strikeouts in the Red Sox’ 5-2 loss to the Guardians
There to watch his MLB premiere at Progressive Field were Murphy’s family and girlfriend, and Jessica’s mother. Murphy made sure to save her a ticket.
“It was awesome that she made it out and that she was able to hang out and we went to a little pub after and hung out and had a couple of drinks and just kind of reminisced,” Murphy said. “She was very emotional after the game just because it was something I promised her.”
A day later, Murphy was optioned back to Triple-A Worcester — with the comfort of knowing he kept his promise to Jessica.
“She’d be proud, for sure,” Murphy said on Friday. “It’s been a long journey. It’s been 12 years since I’ve seen her so it’s one of those things that if she was here, she’d be happy and tell me not to take it too hard on myself. …
“I’ve done what I’ve wanted to do in baseball and that was debut and now it’s okay (to) have some fun out there and kind of continue my career and see how far I can take it.”
And no matter where Chris Murphy’s baseball career takes him, he plays for Jessica.
— Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Chris Murhpy makes MLB debut with Red Sox, plays for Jessica