#013 - Controlling the Cerebral Mind with Penn Murfee

In this episode, Jon sits down with current Chicago White Sox pitcher Penn Murfee to unpack the lessons learned from an unconventional path to the big leagues. A former two-way player at Vanderbilt, Murfee transitioned to pitching full-time after transferring to Santa Clara University, ultimately being drafted by the Mariners in 2018. He made his MLB debut in 2022, posting a sub-3.00 ERA as a rookie, and after overcoming Tommy John surgery in 2023, he’s now healthy and competing at the highest level. In this conversation, Penn shares insights on persistence, taking ownership of your development, managing overthinking, building conviction, and navigating the ups and downs of a professional career. Whether you're a player, coach, or parent, this episode offers a real look into the mindset and habits it takes to succeed.Success Leaves Clues is hosted by Jon Karcich, a former Division I baseball coach at Stanford University and Santa Clara University who now helps athletes own the recruiting process, dial in their mental game, and perform at a high level. This podcast is built on one simple truth: success leaves clues and failure is feedback. Every episode breaks down the patterns, habits, and decisions behind high performance—because success isn’t luck, it’s a trail of choices, stacked reps, and learned lessons. It’s a puzzle—and the pieces are out there if you’re paying attention. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or parent—this show hands you the raw materials. Learn from what worked. Learn from what didn’t. Build your own version of success.Follow Jon:X: @JonKarcichIG: @JonKarcich02:53 - Pen Murfee’s Process Over The Last 8 Years (Persistence & Trust)05:35 - Knowing When To Say No As An Athlete 06:40 - Penn Transferring From Vanderbilt → Santa Clara 07:20 - What Penn Murfee Got From Rusty Filter (Backyard Baseball) 09:00 - Learning From Your Coaches 09:15 - Taking Ownership Of Your Career (Not Pleasing Coaches / Knowing What Works For You)13:53 - What Does Reflection Look Like For Penn? 16:07 - Overthinking / Being A Cerebral Player 18:52 - Becoming Someone Different When Uniform Comes On19:33 - Negative Thoughts Can Become Addicting 23:10: Tyler Matzek / Greg Maddux Approach (Grading Yourself On The Process) 24:45 - Conviction and Execution 26:40 - What Is Penn Murfee’s Mindset Coming Into 2025? 30:18 - Jose Altuve Story 30:50 - Playing A Competitive Kids Game