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Eli Morgan

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Eli Morgan
Morgan with the Akron RubberDucks in 2019
Chicago Cubs
Pitcher
Born: (1996-05-13) May 13, 1996 (age 28)
Rancho Palos Verdes, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 28, 2021, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record18–12
Earned run average3.97
Strikeouts262
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Elijah Gabriel Morgan (born May 13, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cleveland Guardians. Morgan played college baseball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. He was selected by the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) in the eighth round of the 2017 MLB draft, and made his MLB debut in 2021.

Early and personal life

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Morgan was born in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, to Diana and Dave Morgan, a former deputy sports editor for the Los Angeles Times.[1][2] He has a sister, named Briana.[1] He resides in Redondo Beach, California.[2] Morgan is of Jewish parentage, his father being Jewish, but does not identify as Jewish himself.[3]

High school

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Morgan attended Peninsula High School in Rolling Hills Estates, California.[4] In 2014, as a senior, he had a 10–2 win–loss record with a 1.23 earned run average (ERA).[5] He was named Bay League Co-Pitcher of the Year and All-California Interscholastic Federation First Team.[1] He was not drafted out of high school in the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.[6][7] In the summer of 2014, he was 8–0 and an All Star for the Yakima Valley Pippins in the collegiate West Coast League.[7][8]

College

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Morgan enrolled at Gonzaga University, where he played college baseball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs after being offered a spot on the team as a walk-on. In 2015, as a freshman, Morgan pitched to a 1–0 record with a 2.36 ERA (10th in the West Coast Conference; WCC) in 14 appearances (three starts), had a 1.118 WHIP (9th), gave up 1.6 walks/9 innings pitched (4th), and had 4.5 strikeouts/walk (4th).[9][6][7][1][10] Pitching for the Mat-Su Miners in the collegiate Alaska Baseball League in the summer of 2015, he was 5–0 with an 0.73 ERA, and was named to the All-League Team.[11][12] In 2020, he was named to the Miners' All-Decade Team.[13]

As a sophomore in 2016, Morgan transitioned into a full-time starter, going 10–3 (his 10 wins were 2nd in the Conference) with a 3.73 ERA and 107 strikeouts (4th), and leading the Conference with 3 shutouts in 111 innings over 16 starts, earning him a spot on the All-WCC First Team.[14][15][16] After the season, he played in the collegiate Cape Cod League for the Orleans Firebirds.[17]

In 2017, his junior season, Morgan compiled a 10–2 record (his 10 wins were again 2nd in the Conference) with a 2.86 ERA in 14 starts, during which he had 2 shutouts (tied for the Conference lead), struck out a Conference-leading 138 batters (2nd-most in school history, and 3rd in the nation) in 100 2⁄3 innings (12.3 strikeouts/9 innings), had a 1.103 WHIP (10th), had 4.45 strikeouts/walk (8th), and was once again named to the All-WCC First Team.[18][19][20][21] He was one of four pitchers in the country with multiple 15-strikeout games.[1] He was also named Perfect Game/Rawlings First Team All-American, Collegiate Baseball Second Team All-American, three-time National Player of the Week, and five-time Rawlings WCC Pitcher of the Week.[1]

Professional career

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Cleveland Indians / Cleveland Guardians

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2017–19

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Morgan was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the eighth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[22][23] He signed with the Indians for a $135,000 signing bonus.[24] He made his professional debut that season with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the Low–A New York–Penn League, pitching to a 3–2 record with a 1.03 ERA (3rd-lowest in the league) in 35 innings in which he struck out 58 batters (14.9 strikeouts per 9 innings) and had a 0.94 WHIP.[25][26][27] He was recognized by Baseball America for having the best changeup in Cleveland's farm system.[28][29]

Morgan began 2018 with the Lake County Captains of the Single–AA Midwest League, and was promoted to the Lynchburg Hillcats of the High–A Carolina League in May.[27][30] In 27 starts between the two clubs, Morgan went 9–7 with a 3.27 ERA, striking out 156 batters in 143 1⁄3 innings (9.8 strikeouts per 9 innings).[31] For the second straight season, he was recognized by Baseball America for having the best changeup in Cleveland's farm system, and he was also named an MiLB.com Organization All Star and the Indians' 2018 Minor League Pitcher of the Year.[28][29][32]

In 2019, Morgan began the year with Lynchburg before being promoted to the Akron RubberDucks of the Double–A Eastern League in May, with whom Morgan was named a mid-season All-Star.[28][33] In July, he made one spot start with the Columbus Clippers of the Triple–A International League before being reassigned to Akron, with whom he finished the year. Over 26 games (25 starts) between the three clubs, Morgan went 9–6 with a 3.39 ERA, striking out 146 over 140 2⁄3 innings (9.3 strikeouts per 9 innings).[34] He led the Indians' minor leaguers in innings, was second in strikeouts, and was named an MiLB.com and MLB.com Organization All Star.[28][29]

2020–21

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Morgan did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and instead spent the season at the team's Lake County Alternate Training Site.[35][25] He was once again recognized by Baseball America as having the best changeup and control among Indians minor league pitchers.[2] Through 2020, he averaged 10.2 strikeouts and 2.3 walks per 9 innings in the minor leagues.[36] The Indians added him to their 40-man roster on November 20, 2020.[37]

To begin the 2021 season, Morgan returned to Columbus, now members of the newly-formed Triple-A East, with whom he pitched in five games.[38] Baseball America ranked him as having the best command in Cleveland's system.[39]

Major leagues

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The Indians promoted Morgan to the major leagues on May 28, 2021, and he made his major league debut that same day, starting against the Toronto Blue Jays.[40] With winds gusting up to 45 mph in a game called early due to weather, over 2 2⁄3 innings he gave up six earned runs, eight hits (including three doubles), and two walks, and struck out one, and was tagged with the loss as the Indians fell 11–2.[41] Indians manager Terry Francona said: "I don't know how you evaluate that outing. I thought he was going to get blown off the mound.... That was some of the worst conditions I think I've ever seen."[42]

Morgan had a lower ERA each successive month of the season, culminating with his five starts in the last month of the season in which he was 3–1 with a 3.90 ERA and held batters to a .240 batting average.[43] For the 2021 Indians, Morgan started 18 games in which he went 5–7 with a 5.34 ERA and 81 strikeouts over 89 1⁄3 innings.[44]

Pitching for Cleveland in 2022, Morgan was 5-3 with 10 holds and a 3.38 ERA, as in 50 games (one start) he pitched 66 2⁄3 innings. He gave up 46 hits (holding hitters to a .192 batting average) and 13 walks for an 0.885 WHIP, struck out 72 batters, and had a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 6.09 (fourth in the league).[45][46][47][48] Among American League relievers who pitched 60 or more innings, he had the highest first-strike percentage (70.9%), gave up the second-fewest walks per 9 innings (1.55), had the third-highest strikeout-to-walk ratio, and had the fourth-lowest WHIP.[49]

In the post-season, Morgan pitched in the 2022 American League Wild Card Series, where in 1 1⁄3 innings he struck out two batters and did not allow any baserunners.[50]

In 2023, Morgan was 5-2 with one save, seven holds, and a 4.01 ERA, as in a career-high 61 games he pitched 67 1⁄3 innings.[51][50] He struck out 75 batters, and struck out 10.0 batters per 9 innings.[50] He had a salary of $727,000.[50] In 2024, he was 3–0 with a 1.93 ERA and 34 strikeouts, in 32 games covering 42 innings, with a WHIP of 0.976.[50]

Chicago Cubs

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On November 20, 2024, the Guardians traded Morgan to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for minor league prospect Alfonsin Rosario.[52]

Pitching style

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Morgan has a low-90s four-seam fastball that touches 94 miles per hour (151 km/h) and averages 3.3 inches (84 mm) of horizontal movement (which is 48% better than average), an above-average "Bugs Bunny" four-seam changeup, and a slider (one soft version of it in the 82 miles per hour (132 km/h) range, and another version of it in the 87–88 miles per hour (140–142 km/h) range).[53][54][2][39][55] His changeup had an average velocity of 75.1 miles per hour (120.9 km/h), the slowest among major league pitchers who worked at least 40 innings in 2021.[56] In 2022 he threw his fastball half the time and batters hit .205 against it, his changeup a quarter of the time (.184), and his slider 16% of the time (.182).[57] He is known for his command.[58][59]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Eli Morgan – Baseball". Gonzaga University Athletics.
  2. ^ a b c d Mike DiGiovanna (July 3, 2020). "Minor Disruption: Eli Morgan earns a spot on Indians' 60-man training camp roster". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ^ Gurvis, Jacob (March 19, 2024). "All the Jewish MLB players to watch in 2024". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved May 7, 2024. Correction: The initial version of this article included Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Eli Morgan under "The big leaguers". We have removed Morgan, who does not identify as Jewish.
  4. ^ Ingram, Nicholas. "Peninsula alum Eli Morgan realizes pitching goal with Cleveland Indians High-A team". Palos Verdes Peninsula News. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  5. ^ Dave Thorpe (June 13, 2017). "Peninsula grads Max Green, Eli Morgan taken on Day 2 of MLB draft". Daily Breeze. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Turk, Natalie (June 25, 2021). "Behind the Dream – Eli Morgan". Sports Illustrated; Cleveland Indians.
  7. ^ a b c John Blanchette (April 28, 2017). "Gonzaga's Eli Morgan throws opponents a curve with his masterful changeup". The Spokesman-Review.
  8. ^ "Five Yakima Valley Pippins Selected for WCL All-Star Game". NBC Right Now. July 15, 2014.
  9. ^ "2015 West Coast Conference Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. ^ Eric Sondheimer (June 15, 2015). "Baseball: Former Peninsula pitcher Eli Morgan is rising prospect". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  11. ^ "Miners' Paskiewicz is ABL Player of the Year". Anchorage Daily News. August 3, 2015.
  12. ^ "Eli Morgan – Alaska Baseball League". Pointstreak.
  13. ^ Denise Christopher (February 17, 2020). "Mat-Su Miners All-Decade Team (2010–2019)". Mat-Su Valley, Alaska.
  14. ^ Mike Rooney (February 3, 2017). "Conference Preview: WCC". Perfect Game. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  15. ^ Matthew Beaird (April 27, 2017). "Bulldogs' Eli Morgan takes No. 1 role with poise; Hurler makes midseason watch list for USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award, an honor given to top amateur baseball player in the country". The Gonzaga Bulletin. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  16. ^ "2016 West Coast Conference Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  17. ^ "Eli Morgan – Profile". pointstreak. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  18. ^ Kamrowski, Libby (June 1, 2017). "Eli Morgan named Second Team All-American". The Gonzaga Bulletin.
  19. ^ John Blanchette (April 28, 2017). "Gonzaga's Eli Morgan throws opponents a curve with his masterful changeup". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  20. ^ Jacob Thorpe (May 23, 2017). "Gonzaga's Mark Machtolf honored as West Coast Conference baseball Coach of the Year". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  21. ^ "2017 West Coast Conference Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  22. ^ Zack Meisel (June 13, 2017). "Cleveland Indians Day 2 draft tracker: See who the team selects in the 2017 MLB Draft". cleveland.com. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  23. ^ Jordan Bastian (June 13, 2017). "Tribe's Day 2 highlighted by OF Rodriguez". MLB.com. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  24. ^ "Eli Morgan Stats & Scouting Report". Baseball America.
  25. ^ a b "Eli Morgan Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  26. ^ "2017 New York-Pennsylvania League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  27. ^ a b Dave Thorpe (June 13, 2017). "Captains set sail in 2018 with power arms on staff". The News-Herald. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  28. ^ a b c d "Eli Morgan Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com.
  29. ^ a b c Bart Swain, Court Berry-Tripp, Megan Ganser, and Greg Korn (2021). The 2021 Cleveland Indians Information & Record Book (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ Jake Dungan (June 1, 2018). "Hillcats Notes: Morgan Still Rolling After Promotion". 247sports.com. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  31. ^ Jordan Bastian (October 11, 2018). "Pipeline names Indians' Prospects of the Year". MLB.com. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  32. ^ Steve DiMatteo (August 29, 2021). "Cleveland Indians: How does Eli Morgan fit into the team's future?". Fansided.
  33. ^ Fred Cay (June 24, 2019). "Five RubberDucks named Eastern League All-Stars". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  34. ^ Jim Zeale (January 20, 2020). "Cleveland Indians 2020 Top 50 Prospects". Prospects1500. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  35. ^ David Adler (June 30, 2020). "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
  36. ^ Baseball America 2021 Prospect Handbook Digital Edition. Simon and Schuster. 2021. ISBN 9781735548227.
  37. ^ Franco, Anthony (November 20, 2020). "Indians Select Five Players To 40-Man Roster". MLB Trade Rumors.
  38. ^ Chad Porto (May 22, 2021). "Indians: 5 players who are starting strong in Triple-A Columbus". Fansided.
  39. ^ a b Lewis, Ryan (June 23, 2021). "Eli Morgan and his changeup learn a lesson in the majors: Walk-Off Thoughts". Akron Beacon Journal.
  40. ^ Paul Hoynes (May 27, 2021). "Cleveland Indians promote OF Bradley Zimmer; RHP Eli Morgan to start Friday". cleveland.
  41. ^ Joe Noga (May 29, 2021). "Wind, rain and Toronto Blue Jays wreak havoc on Eli Morgan's debut as Cleveland Indians fall, 11–2". cleveland.
  42. ^ Mandy Bell (May 28, 2021). "Morgan battles Blue Jays, weather in debut; On a night when staying upright was a challenge, rookie struggles but still fulfills dream". MLB.com.
  43. ^ "Eli Morgan 2021 Pitching Splits". Baseball-Reference.com.
  44. ^ "Eli Morgan College, Amateur & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  45. ^ "Eli Morgan Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  46. ^ "American League Leaderboards » 2022 » Relievers » Advanced Statistics". FanGraphs Baseball.
  47. ^ "American League Leaderboards » 2022 » Relievers » Standard Statistics". FanGraphs Baseball.
  48. ^ "Eli Morgan," Baseball Reference.
  49. ^ "American League Leaderboards » 2022 » Relievers » Dashboard". FanGraphs Baseball.
  50. ^ a b c d e "Eli Morgan Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com.
  51. ^ "Major League Leaderboards - 2023 - Pitching". FanGraphs Baseball.
  52. ^ "Cubs acquire reliever Morgan, trade prospect to Guardians". MLB.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  53. ^ "2020 IBI Top 50 Prospects: #20 RHP Eli Morgan". Cleveland Indians.
  54. ^ Rohlfing, Merritt (July 1, 2021). "Eli Morgan is a pitcher in the shadows". Covering the Corner.
  55. ^ Joe Noga (July 22, 2021). "Eli Morgan's changeup is making other pitches in his arsenal better for the Cleveland Indians". cleveland.
  56. ^ David Laurila (September 9, 2021). "Cleveland's Eli Morgan on the Art of the Changeup". Fangraphs.
  57. ^ "Eli Morgan". Pitcher List.
  58. ^ Joe Noga (May 27, 2021). "What to expect from RHP Eli Morgan when he debuts for the Cleveland Indians on Friday". cleveland.
  59. ^ David Freier (July 21, 2018). "The Rising Fortunes of Lynchburg's Eli Morgan". Did The Tribe Win Last Night?.
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