SF Giants injury notes: Tom Murphy reflects on ‘tough’ year, updates on Birdsong, Hicks, Ray

SAN FRANCISCO — Since spraining a ligament in his left knee five weeks into the season, Tom Murphy has mostly been a ghost. He comes to the ballpark each day, puts in his rehab and goes home. He doesn’t travel with the team, and when they are at home, manager Bob Melvin will go days without interacting with or even seeing the veteran backstop signed to be their No. 2 catcher this season.

That’s by design, Murphy explained.

“It’s been tough,” the 33-year-old catcher said Tuesday from his locker inside the home clubhouse.