Why Doesn't Angel Morales Get More Love?

by Baseball Handyman on Aug 13, 2008 11:19 PM EDT Comment 10 comments

Monday, August 11, 2008

Impress Your Buds - Angel Morales, OF, MIN

A 3rd round draft pick in 2007, Angel Morales was drafted by the Twins as a speedy outfielder whose toolbox was full, but needed significant polish.

I've been watching Morales for a couple of months and he looks to be turning a corner. During the month of June, his K/BB ratio was a miserable 16/1, but his July/August ratios have shown significant improvement (2.4/1). He has produced all season as evidenced by his .322/.428/.623 line, but his 57 strikeouts in 146 at bats are worrisome and will need significant improvement. Fortunately, Morales will be only 19 in November and still has time to fine tune his offensive approach.

Morales was signed last week in a league I participate in with 30 minors keepers so it's safe to say he is already a blip on many owners radars. My recommendation would be to sign him in the deepest of leagues with minors keepers and watch him closely in shallow leagues. He may be facing a position change with Ben Revere moving to the FSL next season and Aaron Hicks manning center in the Midwest League. With his cannon arm, Morales and either Revere or Hicks would make for an awfully impressive outfield tandem.

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Objection--asked and answered....

Q: Why Doesn’t Angel Morales Get More Love?

A: but his 57 strikeouts in 146 at bats are worrisome and will need significant improvement.

Also, his line last year wasn’t anything special and he has fewer than 300 minor league AB. There’s probably a limited amount of love for 18-year-olds with fewer than 300 AB. It’ll be fantastic if he keeps this up, but even if he moves really aggresively through the system he won’t see a Twins uniform until 2011 and even then it would probably just be a cup of coffee.

by ubelmann on Aug 14, 2008 1:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree with ubelmann.

18 year olds generally don’t get a whole lot of love in the minor leagues. 18 year olds in the majors get a lot of love, though.

by Jesse on Aug 14, 2008 6:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I heart Angel Morales

I suspect he’ll show up on a few prospect lists this offseason. And my bold prediction is that he’ll be a top 10 overall prospect in 2010, when he projects for high A ball or AA as a 20 year old. But as both ubelmann and Jesse have said, it’s a little early and rookie ball is just really hard to evaluate. Next year, he could have a Ben Revere-type year and people will be all over him. But even Revere is not a BA top 10 prospect at this point and he could become the first minor leaguer to hit .400 for a full season in some 30 years. Also, when the organization already has Revere, it casts a shadow on the center field prospect just below him.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Aug 14, 2008 10:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Prospect Lists

I’ve already determined (unless something drastically changes) where I will rank Morales. I had it set a week ago. I was thinking people would be surprised, but I guess not! Oh well.

by SethSpeaks on Aug 16, 2008 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

E Town Stats

While E Town stats are nice to look at – they really don’t tell you much until you see the player in full season ball. The 2007 E Town Twins also tore up the league with some impressive power numbers that didn’t really translate to success with the Beloit Snappers this year.

The one question I have is why does Morales bat so low in the line-up?

by bballfan on Aug 14, 2008 10:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the post

The love is coming soon. Last night he had 2 more doubles tonight he’s gone yard for the 12th time and not done yet. He’s definitely throwing himself on the map the way he’s hitting right now and the tools he’s shown thus far.

Gardenhire's major league career: Banjo hitting, futility infielder who couldn't lick it.
Rick Anderson's major league career: Strikethrower who never made it happen with his sub 90's fastball.
Really gives a new definition to living vicariously through other people, don't it?

by caseintheface on Aug 14, 2008 8:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You are about a year late...

…as Morales turned the corner about four or five weeks before the GCL was over last year. Has been hitting well every since, although nothing like his last three games in which he has four home runs (two tonight and the game isn’t over). I had Morales as a Player of the Week late last season and also several weeks ago. As for him having to find a spot, he is a five tool player who very well could force all the other guys you mentioned to find a position…cause if he solves his strikeout problem he could become a superstar.

by roger13 on Aug 16, 2008 9:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

2 more homers

Morales with 2 home runs today for Elizabethton.

by Hoya on Aug 16, 2008 10:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Who doesn't...

…love Morales: El Angel de la Muerte?

by tobynotjason on Aug 17, 2008 1:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Angel of Death egh? Maybe for opposing pitchers.

Corey Ettinger writes for Infieldirt.com, a site that is primarily Twins related, but which has frequent notes, stories, and thoughts from other teams around baseball, with a focus on the AL Central. If you live in the Fargo area, you can listen to Corey on the Derek Hanson show every Tuesday at 3:30 on AM1660.

by Corey Ettinger on Aug 17, 2008 1:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs