LA's Minor League Infielder Received Blessing from Family Before Returning From Retirement

It was earlier this month when an unconventional signing made its way across the Angels transaction log.

On June 15th, the Los Angeles Angels signed infielder Daniel Murphy to a minor league contract and assigned him to the Salt Lake Bees of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League.

Murphy is unlike many of his minor league brethren.

In contrast to the majority of those plying their trade in the PCL in the hopes of getting to the major leagues for the first time, Murphy had not only made the leap to MLB.

He'd thrived there over the course of 15 years before retiring in 2020.

Perhaps most famous for his stretch with the Mets where he hit a home run in six straight playoff games in 2016, Murphy had experienced major league glory.

And now he wanted to taste glory again.

Not glory in the traditional sense, but glory in the sense that he tried to come back to the game he turned into his life's work. Glory in the sense that he could still play, not even in the majors. Triple-A would do just fine.

The 38 year old former three-time MLB All Star got the blessing from his family before embarking on his unlikely comeback attempt, as he was more than curious to see if he could still do what made him famous, he told The Athletic's Sam Blum.

“I knew what life at home was like, it’s great fun,” Murphy said. “My family’s there. And I don’t have the anxiety of a game and a season. Of aiming at goals that you hope to get, but you may not. … I still experience varying degrees of anxiety. Anytime you aim at something that’s worthwhile, you’re going to get anxious about it. Because you might not get it.”

Now Murphy finds himself with retirement in the rear view mirror -- at least temporarily -- playing the game he made a living out of in Salt Lake City, and doing quite well at it.

It's a small sample size, yes, but Murphy's excelling for the Bees in his return to affiliated baseball, hitting .300/.364/.400 with four RBI in five games.

And if Murphy keeps up his pace, he may just find himself playing in an MLB stadium again for the Los Angeles Angels, something he definitely wasn't expecting when he started to make his way back not even two weeks ago, but a chance that he would welcome with open arms.

“If I’m productive here, the big-league club which is in a pennant race and playing great were to think my services would help them,” Murphy said, “that would be awesome.” (via The Athletic's Sam Blum)

Daniel Murphy already realized the dream he had when he began his road back to pro ball.

Dream accomplished. Goal met. Job well done for the veteran that gave the game he loved another chance.

But with the way he's going, that dream may not end under the modest lights of Salt Lake. It may just end in Southern California.

It's crazy where dreams can take you,