Around the Curve | Card Collecting & The Show: Noah Murdock’s Baseball Journey Continues in Altoona

CURVE, Pa. — When Noah Murdock arrived in Altoona this spring, he brought with him something few Double-A players can claim.

A year ago, the 27-year-old 6-foot-8 right-hander was standing on a major league mound.

The Richmond, Virginia native made his MLB debut with the Athletics on March 29, 2025, after being selected in the Rule 5 Draft and earning a spot on the club’s Opening Day roster.

“The debut itself was perfect,” Murdock said. “I couldn’t have drawn it up any better. My family was there. It was great.”

The tall righty fanned Mariners’ J.P. Crawford and Victor Robles in Seattle in his 1.2 scoreless innings of work. He also retired the 2025 MLB home run leader.

“When Cal Raleigh came up to the plate, that is a guy you want to do a little bit more to try to get out,” Murdock said. “Having some names to check off and be like, ‘Hey, I can get these guys out,’ definitely gives you some confidence.”

Now a year later, after injuries, free agency and a new opportunity with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, Murdock finds himself on his way to Indianapolis, having earned the promotion to Triple-A this week after a strong showing with the Curve.

While Murdock says the debut was perfect, the journey there could be described as slightly untraditional.

The road to that moment in Seattle began decades earlier on Virginia baseball fields.

Like many players, Murdock’s earliest memories come from T-ball and coach pitch, where his passion for the game first developed. Family support helped fuel that passion as he traveled around the country playing youth baseball and creating lifelong friendships.

“Those are kind of the core memories you build in the game, right?” Murdock said. “You’re a kid, you’re getting into baseball, and you find these other kids that also love the game.”

Those experiences laid the foundation for a career that would eventually include three draft selections, a standout collegiate career at the University of Virginia and a professional career spanning more than 140 minor league appearances.

Growing up in Richmond, Murdock became an Atlanta Braves fan through the former Richmond Braves, Atlanta’s Triple-A affiliate.

“Andrew Jones is my favorite player of all time,” Murdock said. “Chipper Jones, John Smoltz, guys like that would come in on rehab starts.”

As he developed into a standout athlete, professional scouts began appearing at his high school games.

“When I started getting interest at the pro level in high school, I was like, ‘Okay, there’s something here,’” Murdock said.

Despite being drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the seventh round of the 2019 MLB Draft, Murdock chose to attend the University of Virginia, a decision heavily influenced by mentor and travel-ball coach Rich Graham.

“Having somebody like him to help me understand what decision was best for me, not really as a player, but as a person,” Murdock said. “Playing baseball at UVA and going to school there was a dream.”

Years of development followed before a breakthrough 2024 season put him on the radar of major league clubs. When Kansas City left him unprotected ahead of the Rule 5 Draft, one person believed an opportunity was still coming.

His wife, Savannah.

“My wife did a lot of the research and digging on the types of players that got taken in the Rule 5,” Murdock said. “She was like, ‘You’re a perfect fit.’”

She was right.

The Athletics selected Murdock in December 2024 and carried him onto their Opening Day roster the following spring. After years of climbing the professional ladder, Murdock had reached the major leagues.

“I got called in the office, got told the news that I made the Opening Day roster, which was just incredible,” Murdock said.

One of his biggest takeaways from facing major league hitters was discovering he belonged.

“You see these guys on TV, some of the best players, and when you see yourself get them out, you kind of believe, ‘Hey, I’m supposed to be here,’” Murdock said.

After spending time with the Athletics and later returning to the Royals organization, Murdock hit free agency following the 2025 season. The Pirates signed him to a minor league contract in November, giving him a fresh opportunity and eventually bringing him to Altoona in April.

Murdock rode an 11.1 scoreless inning streak over his final seven appearances with Altoona to a promotion to Triple-A on June 2. He had not allowed an earned run since May 5 and struck out 12 while yielding just four hits and three walks across this seven-outing stretch.

He credits the Curve pitching staff of Kevin Walker and David Perez for helping him with the mental side of his game this season.

Off the field, Murdock has developed an unexpected hobby.

During an injury rehab stint, he discovered baseball card collecting. What started as a way to pass the time eventually turned into a social media series built around one simple goal: finding his own baseball cards in packs.

“The combination of being a little bit bored while you’re in that rehab process and then the excitement of having your own card,” Murdock said.

Now, through a series called “City Rips,” Murdock visits local card shops in cities around the country, purchases packs and searches for his cards while highlighting local hobby stores.

“We’re sticking with the same theme that people enjoy — me looking for my card,” Murdock said.

It’s a fitting hobby for someone whose baseball story has already covered so much ground.

The kid who once sat in the stands watching future major leaguers pass through Richmond is now a former major leaguer himself, continuing his journey with the Curve while chasing the next opportunity that baseball might provide.