BA GRADE
45
Risk: High
Born: Nov. 16, 1995. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 195. Drafted: HS—Orange, Calif., 2014 (3rd round). Signed by: Steve Flores.
Morgan repeated the high Class A level in 2017 at the Rangers’ new Down East affiliate in the Carolina League, but he did so while having to learn a new position. Morgan had experimented with catching at instructional league in 2015 and 2016, and in 2017 the Rangers had him rotating between shortstop and catcher, with 36 games behind the plate but most of his time at shortstop.
Morgan missed a month in June with a tight hamstring but got extra work catching upper-level pitching after the season in the Arizona Fall League. It’s been difficult for Morgan to learn catching while playing it only part time, but the Rangers like the versatility of having him at multiple positions. Morgan has a contact-oriented swing and a good eye for the strike zone, though he wasn’t as selective with his approach as he has shown in the past. Morgan doesn’t have much power but has enough to pull 8-12 home runs over the fence. Morgan doesn’t have the range to stick at shortstop, but his hands, feet and slightly above-average arm would work well at second or third base. He’s shown promising signs behind the plate, but he understandably has a ways to go to stick there.
Morgan is slated to move up to Double-A Frisco, where he will continue to work on his catching and bounce around the infield.
Year |
Club (League) |
Class |
AVG |
G |
AB |
R |
H |
2015 |
Hickory (SAL) |
LoA |
.288 |
98 |
351 |
59 |
101 |
2016 |
High Desert (CAL) |
HiA |
.300 |
128 |
470 |
74 |
141 |
2017 |
Down East (CAR) |
HiA |
.270 |
106 |
408 |
56 |
110 |
Minor League Totals |
.291 |
388 |
1431 |
226 |
417 |
||
Year |
Club (League) |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
BB |
2015 |
Hickory (SAL) |
15 |
1 |
3 |
36 |
45 |
2016 |
High Desert (CAL) |
19 |
2 |
7 |
64 |
44 |
2017 |
Down East (CAR) |
21 |
3 |
6 |
45 |
26 |
Minor League Totals |
58 |
7 |
16 |
164 |
144 |
|
Year |
Club (League) |
SO |
SB |
CS |
OBP |
SLG |
2015 |
Hickory (SAL) |
53 |
9 |
4 |
.385 |
.362 |
2016 |
High Desert (CAL) |
61 |
4 |
2 |
.367 |
.394 |
2017 |
Down East (CAR) |
54 |
3 |
0 |
.318 |
.380 |
Minor League Totals |
191 |
19 |
9 |
.369 |
.375 |
|