{"id":1042776,"date":"2026-09-04T11:34:28","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T11:34:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1042776\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T11:34:28","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T11:34:28","slug":"chicago-baseball-report-bj-murray-jr-s-long-journey-to-cubs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1042776\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago baseball report: BJ Murray Jr.’s ‘long journey’ to Cubs"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cubs wasted an opportunity to try to threaten the Milwaukee Brewers and their division-title hopes by dropping back-to-back games following a series-opening win Monday.<\/p>\n

With the Phillies Phillies passing them for the top National League wild-card spot, the Cubs will need to take care of business this weekend in Miami before another series against the Brewers, this time three games in Milwaukee, to finish their head-to-head meetings in the regular season.<\/p>\n

The American League Central-leading White Sox begin a six-game homestand Friday with the first of three against the Minnesota Twins. The Sox won two of three against the third-place Twins last weekend at Target Field in Minneapolis.<\/p>\n

Every Friday during the regular season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened \u2014 and what\u2019s ahead \u2014 for the Cubs<\/a> and White Sox<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Want the latest baseball news? Subscribe to the Chicago Tribune<\/a> to read it all \u2014 and sign up for our Cubs Insider<\/a>\u00a0and White Sox Insider<\/a> newsletters.<\/p>\n

Long road to the big leagues
\n\"ChicagoCubs designated hitter BJ Murray Jr. sprints down the line for his first major-league hit on an infield single against the Brewers on Monday, Sept. 1, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

As the Sept. 1 expanded rosters loomed, infielder BJ Murray Jr. had no idea the Cubs viewed him as their choice for the extra position player.<\/p>\n

When he learned over the weekend that he was getting his first big-league call-up, Murray called his parents in the Bahamas. He spent Monday getting acclimated to Wrigley Field, taking batting practice pregame for the first time, and was added to the Cubs roster Tuesday. His bat earned him the promotion after hitting .294 with a .395 on-base percentage and .895 OPS at Triple-A Iowa this year.<\/p>\n

Murray didn\u2019t have to wait long to debut, either, getting the start in Tuesday\u2019s loss in the designated hitter spot and even collected his first major-league hit on an infield single.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a long journey,\u201d Murray said. \u201cIt was fun, though. I just like playing baseball. Obviously I wanted to be here in the big leagues, but I like playing baseball. So, as long as I had that opportunity, I was going to be trying to make the most out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Murray plans to give his first-hit baseball to his parents, who were in the crowd for his debut.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy dad was just as excited as I was, like, everybody was making a lot of noise on the phone,\u201d Murray said. \u201cIt was sick. They\u2019ve been with me this whole time, so it\u2019s cool to have them experience this with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

A 15th-round pick of the Cubs in 2021, Murray didn\u2019t really start getting into baseball until moving from the Bahamas to the States as a teen. With his debut Tuesday, Murray became just the 10th Bahamian to reach the majors and the second with the Cubs, joining infielder Andr\u00e9 Rodgers (1961-64).<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s pretty cool, I honestly I didn\u2019t know that for sure,\u201d Murray said. \u201cBut I know everybody in the Bahamas is rooting for me, so it\u2019s like they here with me and I\u2019m going to try to make the most out of it and do this for the kids coming behind me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Honor roll
\n\"WhiteWhite Sox center fielder Tristan Peters hits a two-run home run against the Rangers on Aug. 24, 2026, at Rate Field. (Armando L. Sanchez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

When Tristan Peters homered in the third inning of an Aug. 22 game against the New York Mets, it was the start of a record-tying streak.<\/p>\n

The outfielder hit home runs in five straight games from Aug. 22-26, matching the franchise record. That power display was one of the reasons Peters was named American League Rookie of the Month for August, Major League Baseball announced Thursday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really cool,\u201d Peters said of the recognition.<\/p>\n

Peters slashed .320\/.414\/.640 with six doubles, six home runs, 14 RBIs, 14 runs and 10 walks in 27 August games. He led AL rookies in homers, slugging percentage and OPS (1.054) and ranked second in on-base percentage, third in average and tied for third in RBIs.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust getting back to sitting on my back side a little more, seeing the ball a little better,\u201d Peters said when asked what were keys to the success. \u201cIt helped a lot, just working with hitting coaches. I feel like I, too, found a power stroke. Pulling the ball a little more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Peters became the 14th rookie in major-league history to homer in five straight contests and the third Sox rookie to accomplish the feat, joining Munetaka Murakami (this season) and Ron Kittle (1983).<\/p>\n

\"WhiteWhite Sox center fielder Tristan Peters heads home to score in the second inning against the Astros on Sept. 3, 2026, in Houston. (Alex Slitz\/Getty)<\/p>\n

According to Elias, Peters and Murakami (April 17-22) also are the only pair of rookie teammates since at least 1901 to hit home runs in five-plus straight games in the same season.<\/p>\n

Peters shares the franchise record with Murakami, A.J. Pierzynski (2012), Paul Konerko (2011), Carlos Lee (2003), Frank Thomas (twice in 1994), Kittle and Greg Luzinski (1983).<\/p>\n

\u201cI never hit that many home runs in that span before,\u201d Peters said. \u201cIt was crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s part of a season in which he has hit for the cycle and was named an All-Star.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously the story of Tristan this year has been incredible,\u201d manager Will Venable said. \u201cAnd you feel like in every one of these things that he accomplishes and has been recognized for what he does, he just continues to one-up himself. And the honors just continue to roll in here.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just so proud of him, he\u2019s such a good guy. He works so hard, he\u2019s getting all the recognition he deserves and this honor is just another one in a long list of things he\u2019s been able to accomplish this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Number of the week: 6<\/p>\n

The Cubs have shown a knack for delivering late in games this season. They have six wins when trailing after the eighth inning, third-most in the majors, trailing the Cincinnati Reds\u2019 and Philadelphia Phillies\u2019 seven. The Cubs\u2019 13 walk-off wins lead MLB, and in late-and-close situations, the their .727 OPS ranks sixth.<\/p>\n

Week ahead: Cubs
\n\"CubsPete Crow-Armstrong hits a walk-off, two-run home run in the 10th inning to give the Cubs\u00a0a 7-5 win\u00a0against the White Sox on Aug. 17, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Armando L. Sanchez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n