Some notes on Daniel Murphy

The Nationals' new second baseman is on a hitting rampage. He's hit in 23 of 26 Nationals games. He has 13 multi-hit games, has RBIs in six consecutive games and in Kansas City, he became the 10th player to get his 1,000th career hit wearing a Nationals uniform.

Here are things to know about Murphy:

* Murphy, a left-handed batter, hit a career-high 14 home runs for the Mets last season, eight in the final two months, four each in August and September. Mets batting coach Kevin Long worked with him on three mechanical adjustments. One was to get his front, or right, foot down faster before he swung. The second was to move closer to the plate and third was to get his legs more involved in his swing. The adjustments allowed him to pull the ball to center and right field. "The story of my career is that I was always late in my swing," Murphy says.

* Murphy met with Nationals pitchers in spring training to let them know how and when he and his former Mets teammates felt comfortable in the box. "He's an intelligent hitter and remembers a lot, so I'd say he was a big help to our pitching staff," Nationals pitching coach Mike Maddux says.

* Murphy wears No. 20, the uniform number of former Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond.

* Murphy was the Nationals' third choice as a second baseman. They tried to acquire Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips, but Phillips vetoed the trade and stayed with a rebuilding team. The Nationals also offered free-agent Ben Zobrist a contract, but he signed with the Cubs so he could be closer to home.

* Murphy grew up in Jacksonville, Fla., and played college baseball at Jacksonville University. He hit .398 during his senior season, getting 88 hits in 55 games.

* Murphy missed the Mets' opening day in 2014 because he was on paternity leave and was on hand for the birth of his son, Noah. President Obama praised Murphy's priorities, and in June of 2014, Murphy spoke at a White House Summit on Working Families.

* After signing a free-agent contract with the Nationals, Murphy said his new teammates, players that he had beaten for the National League East title in 2015, were helpful in helping him get settled. "Ryan Zimmerman called and offered me the name of his real estate agent," Murphy says.

* Murphy is a strong Christian and doesn't mind talking about it. When asked what he thought about playing for the Nationals after coming over from the Mets, he answered: "Whatever Jesus wants."

* Murphy hit .266 in his first full season with the Mets in 2009. The next season, his average jumped to .320, the one and only time he's hit better than .300.

* Murphy's average has been consistent throughout his career. His lowest monthly average is .277 in June.

* Murphy's defense has been inconsistent, basically because of his footwork. Nationals infield coach Chris Speier, a former shortstop, and infielder Stephen Drew have given Murphy good advice about focusing on being in a better set position, Murphy told the Washington Post.

* Last postseason, he hit .529 with four home runs, a double and six RBIs to win the National League Championship Series MVP for the Mets. He was the second Met to that, joining pitcher Mike Hampton, who won the award in 2000.

* Murphy's postseason in 2015 was history-making, as he hit home runs in six consecutive games, breaking the record of five by Houston's Carlos Beltran in 2004. Murphy tagged an impressive roster of big-name pitchers for home runs, including the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw (twice) and Zack Greinke and the Cubs' Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester.

* According to Elias Sports Bureau, Murphy became the third player in history to hit a postseason home run against the league's win, ERA and strikeout leaders, meaning Arrieta, Greinke and Kershaw, respectively.

* Murphy's first big league hit came in 2008, a single against three-time All-Star Roy Oswalt of the Philadelphia Phillies. Later in the same game, he made a difficult catch in left field and managed to get a double play against the Phillies' Hunter Pence. Also in 2008, Murphy had 10 hits in his first 20 at-bats for the Mets.

* Murphy is a natural third baseman, but he started as a left fielder and first basemen with the Mets. He played his first game at third base in 2011 and became a second baseman in 2012.

* Murphy's first big league home run came in 2008 against the Florida Marlins' Renyel Pinto.

* The Mets made Murphy the qualifying offer of $15.8 million, but he turned it down. The Mets acquired second baseman Neil Walker from Pittsburgh. The Mets didn't offer Murphy a long-term contract because they think Dilson Herrera, one of their top minor league prospects, will be ready to take the job soon.

* Murphy hit .270 with six home runs in his career against the Nationals. "He's always been a tough out," Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez says. "We're happy to have him on our side."