Luke Murphy’s excellence on the diamond has led him from East Robertson High School (ERHS) to Vanderbilt University to professional baseball.

The flamethrowing right-handed pitcher, drafted in the fourth round by the Los Angeles Angels in 2021 and entering his third full season in the organization, will now, however, be put in the outfield.

That’s where East Robertson will forever honor Luke with a metal placard on the outfield wall retiring his number 27 jersey. The formal jersey retirement ceremony will take place at ERHS on February 4 during the baseball team’s second annual First Pitch Dinner, which helps raise funds for an indoor training facility for the team.

“I’m so honored to be able to have my jersey retired,” says Luke, a 2018 ERHS graduate who lettered four years in both baseball and basketball, playing hoops for his father, Neil, a former college baseball pitcher himself at Austin Peay. “It’s hard to put into words how thankful I am.”

His baseball coach at ERHS, Derek Wix, says he’s looking forward to a “special night” of celebrating Luke’s past, present, and ongoing accomplishments.

“He’s still on this incredible journey,” says Derek, who led the Indians to the Class 1A championship game this past season after winning the state title in 2021. “Luke is one of the best teammates I’ve seen in the 15 years I’ve been a coach. He’s a person of high character. The way he interacted with freshman all the way up to seniors was always positive, and he’s the very definition of a leader. Add to that the accolades he had in high school, at Vanderbilt, and now having the opportunity to play baseball professionally.

“You can’t help but root for someone like that.”

After Luke’s stellar career at ERHS where he first joined the team as an eighth grader and was the 2018 Robertson County Player of the Year, District 9A Most Valuable Player, and the state’s No. 8 overall prospect as a senior, he took his talents to Vanderbilt. There, he followed in the footsteps of his cousin, Will Clinard, who played for the Commodores from 2009-12 after his standout Indians career.

Keeping it in the family, Will also wore number 27 at ERHS and had his jersey retired. Will’s nephew, freshman Kason Young, dons the same number patrolling leftfield for the Indians. Luke and Will join Blake Owen (Vanderbilt/Belmont) as jersey retirees after each was drafted by Major League Baseball.

“To have number 27 retired twice is really special to me,” says Luke. “I always looked up to Will when I was younger and would watch him play, and being able to follow him through his baseball career pushed me to want to follow a similar path.”

Despite missing the 2019 season at Vanderbilt due to undergoing Tommy John surgery, then seeing the 2020 campaign shortened due to the COVID outbreak, Luke remained undeterred. The 2021 season would prove to be his breakthrough, as he tied for the team lead in saves with nine, led all Commodores relief pitchers with 61 strikeouts, and threw a career-long 3.2 innings in Vandy’s Regional-clinching win over Georgia Tech.

Luke also learned valuable lessons, both on and off the field, from legendary Vanderbilt baseball Coach Tim Corbin and Associate Head Coach Scott Brown.

“Coach Corbin and Coach Brown are truly special people,” commends Luke. “[Corbin] instilled in each of us how to be a good man on and off the field, and I think those little intangibles helped create a good environment and for me to grow in the game of baseball.”

Luke’s baseball IQ, arm speed, and competitive fire didn’t go unnoticed by pro scouts. On July 12, 2021, he received the joyous call from the Angels that he was the 110th overall pick in the MLB Draft.

For the past two seasons, he’s been a valuable part of the relief pitching corps for the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the Angels’ AA affiliate in Huntsville, Alabama. His blinding fastball and what Coach Wix calls a “wipeout” changeup pitch have resulted in 129 strikeouts over 102 innings thus far in his minor league career.

“Once I get into a competitive environment, I like to turn a different switch on, win as much as I can, and help my team be the best it can,” Luke declares. “It’s always team first with me.”

Early next month, Luke will make the pilgrimage to Tempe, Arizona, for the Angels’ 2024 Spring Training. A season ripe with opportunities to showcase his talent begins anew.

“If the opportunity comes to get my name called to the big leagues, that's going to be something I'll cherish forever,” he says. “I just have to keep working hard and as best I can to get there. It will be a dream come true if it happens.”

But before Luke makes the trek out west, he has a treasured memory to make, a tip of the cap to his circle of support, without whom he is adamant the success leading to his jersey retirement would not be possible:

“It's not only a celebration for me, but also for all the people who helped me get to where I'm at today. If it wasn't for, most importantly, my family, and Coach Wix, Coach Corbin, Coach Brown, and all the coaches and teammates who helped me along, I wouldn't be where I'm at today. I’m truly blessed.”

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