PAWTUCKET -- When David Murphy hit his first major-league home run at Yankee Stadium last season, he knew he had arrived.

An outfield prospect for the Boston Red Sox, he was promoted from Triple-A Pawtucket in September and immediately made an impact. He recorded his first hit in his first big-league at-bat against Toronto's A.J. Burnett on Sept. 2. On Sept. 17, he belted his first roundtripper off the Yankees' Jaret Wright. 17.

Murphy finished the 2006 season with 22 major-league at-bats, with five hits and two RBI, proving all the scouting reports on the 26-year-old outfielder were all true -- the kid can play ball.

The 6-foot-4, 192-pound left-handed hitter was Boston's first-round selection (17th overall) in the 2003 draft. Entering his fifth professional season, Murphy has enjoyed success at each level in the Sox organization. Because he's been highly-touted as a future major-league outfielder, the one probably to replace Trot Nixon in right, Murphy's minor-league -- and brief major-league -- success was a welcome sign in Boston.

Enter J.D. Drew.

The Red Sox recently signed the veteran free-agent outfielder to a five-year contract worth $70 million, solidifying right field and the No. 5 spot in the batting order. Coco Crisp will play center field, while Manny Ramirez presumably will remain in left field.

That means Murphy may be on the outside looking in. But he could be a perfect left-handed bat off the bench. Plus, he possess the ability to play all three outfield positions.

Murphy, along with Manny Delcarmen, Kason Gabbard, Craig Hansen, Phil Seibel and Julian Tavares, were in the area yesterday visiting Quanacut House in East Providence as part of the Red Sox Holiday Goodwill Tour. Quanacut House is a Family Service for Rhode Island group home for boys.

"The Red Sox want to win," said Murphy. "J.D. Drew and (shortstop) Julio Lugo are guys who have done a lot in the big leagues, and will help the Red Sox win. It's just one of those things, and I have to respect what they've done. Those guys are going to come in a play well, that's the bottom line."

From the time he was in Little League, scouts were keeping tabs on Murphy. That really hasn't changed much, as major-league scouts roamed McCoy Stadium near the trade deadline last July just to get a better understanding of his tools. Numerous scouts said they were impressed with what they saw.

Murphy's on the Sox' 40-man roster, along with slugging outfielder Wily Mo Pena, Ramirez, Crisp and minor-league prospect Brandon Moss, so things are a bit crowded.

"The outfield seems kind of set right now," said Murphy. "At the same time, I feel like if I go [to spring training] and do well, take care of my business, then good things will happen."

He had an opportunity to play winter ball in the Dominican Republic during this offseason, and even though he would have been a good experience for him, he decided it would be best to rest and recharge the batteries in time for the spring.

"I felt if I played winter ball, I would have been worn out a little bit," he said. "I didn't want to feel like that. I know it would have been a chance to get better, but at the same time I felt like I needed the rest. I wanted to get into the weight room during the offseason to regain my strength and energy. I made my decision and I stick with it."

After playing a combined 146 games between Portland, Pawtucket and Boston last season, Murphy took a month-long break from baseball. He began preparing for spring training a little over a month ago with a group of 10 other pro players, focusing on strength and he's happy where he is right now. He'll also participate in the rookie development program in Boston next month.

He spent only 31 days in the majors, but his time in Boston was very valuable. When he arrives in Fort Myers in February, Murphy will have a better understanding of how things work.

"That experience can help me in so many different ways," he said. "Once you've been there, you have the confidence in certain situations. Playing at Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium, environments like that are the toughest in baseball. I can go into this year and, if I get the chance, it's nice that I've gotten all the firsts -- hits, home run, RBI -- out of the way. I don't have to press, I got my little taste of it and I'm ready to go."

jmcdonal@projo.com / (401) 277-7340