MESA, Ariz. — Tom Murphy knows his career with the Rockies might be in danger.

He’s the third catcher on the Rockies’ depth chart, currently sitting behind Chris Iannetta and Tony Wolters, and earlier this week, manager Bud Black said the club plans to go with just two catchers on its 25-man roster. More critical, Murphy is out of minor-league options, so sending him down to Triple-A Albuquerque is not an option.

Yet Murphy, who turns 28 on April 3, is not performing like a player in limbo, nor is he tightening up under the pressure. Rather, he’s battled hard and performed well in the first two weeks of the Cactus League. Thursday, he hit an enormous solo home run onto the left-field concourse at Sloan Park off the Cubs’ Wyatt Short and also ripped a three-run double in the sixth, boosting his spring average to .313.

“I’m at a point where I’m just trying to be as calm and relaxed in the box as I possibly can be,” Murphy said. “I want to cut down on my strikeouts, (have) more quality at-bats. As long as I do that, I’m going to be in a good place throughout the spring.”

In regard to his precarious position on the roster, Murphy said: “I’m trying to keep my expectations down, like I’ve said before, and keep my standard of play high. As long as I can stay within that standard, I’m going to be all right.”

Manager Bud Black has had nothing but praise for the catcher.

“He’s playing well, he’s playing hard, he swung the bat today,” Black said. “So some really good signs for ‘Murph.’ ”

The offensive performance from Colorado’s catchers last season was dismal, so Murphy’s power potential will no doubt factor into the roster decision. Black also said that Murphy has made strides behind the plate.

“I think ‘Murph’ does a nice job of game-calling,” Black said. “He’s got good feel and he’s got great conviction in what he calls, which is great. He has a plan.

“With that said, the whole aspect of his game is much improved over what we saw two years ago and that’s a tribute to ‘Murph.’ ”

Hoop dreams. The Rockies began their basketball shooting contest Thursday, complete with NBA jerseys, 1970s short-shorts for Charlie Blackmon’s team and plenty of trash talking.

Black’s latest venture into team building includes a 4-point line on the patio near the loading dock at the team’s complex at Salt River Fields. He wasn’t too impressed, however, with the shooting displayed during the opening day of competition.

“To be totally honest, I was surprised by some of the air balls I saw from professional athletes,” Black deadpanned. “They’d be the first to admit that they were a little bit nervous. They get out there in front of the group and the body tightens up a little bit and that stroke kind of shortens. I was surprised by that. I would have guessed there would have been better performances overall.”

The one player who’s game did impress Black was right-handed pitcher Jeff Hoffman.

“He can bring it,” Black said.