05/04/2020: Reno, NV – On March 31^st during the final game of spring training Reno Zephyrs outfielder Frank Murphy was injured making a catch.  He got up immediately after the play and finished the inning showing no signs of pain.  The thirty year old veteran was replaced the following inning and team officials said nothing of the injury until the next morning when Murphy was placed on the disabled list.  Murphy spent four weeks on the DL with a herniated disc.

Today Murphy is back in the Zephyrs lineup but, rumors have begun to surface alleging the true cause of the injury.  Murphy, who is married, has reportedly been caught sneaking around his Reno with a local exotic dancer who goes by the stage name of Sugar Nightridge.  The two have been spotted at a local casino and Murphy’s SUV was reportedly spotted a motel the evening of the alleged injury.

Neither Murphy nor the Zephyrs front office offered any formal response to the accusations.  Teammates are neutral thus far on the matter.

“You can’t take rumors you hear as fact until there’s definite proof,” said Reno teammate Tony Carmona.  “I could point at you and say you punched a baby but that doesn’t make it true.  What matters is that he is back on the field and playing again.”

The woman’s former boyfriend, Dale Leftford, an unemployed construction worker, has contacted several media outlets about the affair.  He claims that he and Murphy got into an altercation the evening of March 31^st and that they both suffered injuries as a result of the fight.

There is a police report on the date in question at the Starlight Motel where Mr. Leftford and Ms. Nightridge were detained by the police along with an unidentified male.  Leftford was treated at Mercy Hospital for his injuries and released.

Since coming back from the injury, Murphy is hitting .350 with a .381 OBP and .700 SLG.  Who knows what is true and what is not at this point but, maybe a herniated disc and a little Sugar is all that was needed to kick start Frank Murphy’s bat.