Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CLE | RHP | 20 | 45 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | SL | CH | Ctr/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 40 | 45 | 45 | 50 | 70 | 60/55 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Jake Kerns
Age: 25 yr
Height: 5-10
Weight: 180 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 Draft - Round 8
RuleV: On 40-man
Physical Description: Undersized build for a starter. Short, compact frame that's already filled out. Well built and strong for his frame size, but not a typical build for a workhorse type starter. Solid lower half and broad enough shoulders for the frame.
Delivery & Mechanics: Works first base side of the rubber with a steady rock and fire with midsection high leg kick. Leg kick gives tilts his back towards the hitter a little. Hips/pelvis stay stacked. Creates natural hip hinge. Gets into lower half well and stays connected to the rubber. Good extension for someone of his height. A longer arm swing exposes ball behind his body but helps to create consistently good hip/shoulder separation. Squares up shoulders to plate before his three-quarter arm slot release. Clean, repeatable delivery. Will throw in quick pitch mechanics from the stretch to vary timing. Quick delivery from the stretch keeps run game in check.
Fastball: Sits 88-91 and will stretch to 92/93 early in games. Spins at an above-average rate (2,400 RPM) and locates it on the black consistently. Works effectively up in the zone thanks to spin and command. Must maintain above-average command in order to avoid mistakes in the middle of the zone. Has some arm side run to it. Grade: 45
Curveball: 74-76 with effective shape. Starts at 12-6 trajectory but lacks depth to make it a true 12-6 type curve. Tunnels effectively with fastballs up in the zone with consistent release point and arm slot. Will use it to get ahead in counts or steal a strike thanks to command. Enough shape to use to expand hitters zones occasionally. Grade: 45
Slider: 78-80 with late bite. Occasionally shows more sweeping action but at times acts as a cutter with little vertical break. Tends to show sweeping action more to right-handers and 'cutter' type action in on the hands of left-handers. Locates effectively to either side of the zone. Also tunnels well off the fastball. Grade: 50
Changeup: 76-78 with premium fade and deception. Arm speed sells it effectively. Falls off the table. Gets left-handers to commit early and gets right-handers out of front. Will compete for swings and misses in the zone and gets hitters to expand the zone sufficiently. Will throw it in any count with plus command. Easily a double-plus offering. Grade: 70
Control and Command: Hits the glove anywhere in the strike zone and effectively lives on the black. Commands fastball well at the top of the zone and throws two breaking balls for enough strikes to be effective. Locates changeup low in the zone to both sides of the plate with ease. Avoids putting runners on with free passes. Control: 60 | Command: 55
Overall: In a vacuum, Morgan's changeup is one of the best pitches in all of baseball. The consistent, late, devastating fade, command and deception of the pitch makes it one of the best weapons since he can throw it in any count to both lefties and righties. It's almost good enough to carry him to a back end of the rotation type arm alone. The spin on his fastball makes it a fringe-average offering because it will work well up in the zone and he can command it there, and tunnel it with his two breaking balls. The curveball doesn't have enough depth to be a plus pitch but it has a good shape difference from the slider. I nearly wanted to say he had a cutter and a slider because the shape does change for him, I think on purpose. It's an effective pitch to keep left handers honest and another shape breaking ball for right handers to see. Morgan is as crafty as they come. He's a student of the game, meticulous about his craft and has exceptional pitchability and is very cerebral. He understands sequencing and is a tinkerer, always finding ways to improve his offerings. Ultimately his fastball is going to keep him in the back end of the rotation and leave him as a starter who can probably turn a lineup over twice thanks to his changeup. If he's one of those starters who keep his fastball usage below his other offerings, he can be more effective. Perhaps he can maintain 91-93 as a reliever and live off the changeup as some relievers can do. I'm skeptical to grade him any higher because of his fastball and size but am fully ready for that to be undervaluing him considering the other pitches and the Indians' success with this profile.
OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Spot Starter/Low Leverage Reliever
Risk: Moderate
