July 8, 2005
Former Georgia Tech standout Matt Murton is the lastest Yellow Jacket to reach the Major Leagues as the outfielder has been called up by the Chicago Cubs.
A native of McDonough, Ga., Murton was an all-Atlantic Coast Conference selection for the Jackets in 2002-03 and helped Tech to the 2002 College World Series. He batted .338 with 30 home runs and 149 runs batted in in three seasons on the Flats.
Murton becomes the 10th former Yellow Jacket of the Danny Hall era (1994-present) to reach the Major Leagues. Since 1986, 20 former Tech players have reached the Majors.
Other former Jackets currently in the Major Leagues include All-Stars Jason Varitek of the Boston Red Sox and Mark Teixeira of the Texas Rangers, former All-Stars Kevin Brown (N.Y. Yankees) and Nomar Garciaparra (Chicago Cubs), as well as Doug Creek (Detroit Tigers). Jay Payton was designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox and is expected to be traded.
Murton, 23, was hitting .342 with eight homers, 17 doubles and 46 RBIs at Double-A West Tennessee. A supplemental first-round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox in 2003, he was sent to the Cubs organization in the Garciaparra deal last July.
To make room for Murton, the Cubs optioned Corey Patterson, the brother of Murton’s former Tech teammate Eric Patterson, to Triple-A. Corey Patterson also signed with Tech out of high school but opted for pro ball.
