Avery Bryan Morris, 25, attended Tullahoma High School in Tennessee, where he was named a Louisville Slugger All-American following his senior season in 2005. He went crosstown after he graduated and became a Motlow State CC Buck (RHP David Weathers, 19 year MLB vet, is their only other big league alum).
The teen was drafted by the Tampa Bay in the third round of the 2005 draft, right out of high school, but begged off to attend Motlow. The freshman ended up having one of the top seasons in Buck history, posting a 10-1 record with 122 strikeouts and an 0.82 ERA. He re-entered the 2006 draft and was chosen in the first round this time (26th overall) by the Los Angeles Dodgers, inking a deal worth $1,325,000.
He was sent to the short-season Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League. Morris was a talented but wild child. His record was 4-5/5.13 in 59-2/3, fanning 79 and walking 40. Swing and miss stuff is sexy, and he was voted by Baseball America as the top prospect in the League. Morris didn't get a chance to live up to that rep right away, as he missed the entire 2007 season after Tommy John surgery.
In 2008, Morris played for the Dodgers A farm club, the Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League. The righty was 2-4/3.20, with 72 K in 81-2/3 IP. In July, he was traded to the Pirates as part of the three team trade that sent Jason Bay to the Boston Red Sox and also netted Andy LaRoche, Brandon Moss and Chris Hansen for Pittsburgh.
The Pirates, who saw enough to believe his arm was back after the TJ surgery, sent Morris to their Class A club at Hickory in the South Atlantic League. He made three starts for the Crawdads, walked 12 guys in 14 innings, and was shut down with pain in his right shoulder that was affecting his range of motion. The Pirates said it wasn't anything serious, but it would bite Morris the following year.
Morris was assigned to the Lynchburg Hillcats, the Pirates' Carolina League A team, but it took him a while to get on the mound. He had to recover from surgery for a torn ligament in his toe and from tendonitis in his right shoulder, last year's late-season pain. It took nearly two months to get him pitching.
While in Lychburg, he posted a 4-9 record with a 5.57 ERA, but the 'Cats made the playoffs and Morris won the fifth and deciding game of their first-round series. It was a frustrating year for Morris, who was suspended indefinitely in August for unprofessionalism after getting snarky with a man in blue. Much of the frustration came from the Bucs rebuilding his motion to try to protect his shoulder, and having him serve up a heavy dose of stat-busting heaters until he was where they wanted him to be mechanically.
Morris was the Opening Day starting pitcher for the Bradenton Marauders during their first game in franchise history in 2010, playing alongside Starling Marte, Tony Sanchez, Brock Holt, Jeff Locke and Kyle McPherson. In eight starts, he went 3-0/0.60 in 44-2/3 innings, with the lowest ERA among starters in minor league baseball. On May 16th, Morris became the first Marauder in franchise history to get promoted when he was called up to AA Altoona.
He went 6-4/4.25 for the Curve, and by mid-season was working out of the pen. It wasn't because of pitching problems, but because the Pirates wanted to limit him to around 130 IP, and he was starting to show signs of wearing down after 100 frames. He stayed healthy for the entire season and threw for a career-high 133-2/3 innings with 124 strikeouts. Baseball America ranked him at #6 on the Pirate Top Ten Prospects list entering the 2011 season.
Morris was invited to camp in 2011, and eventually was sent back to the Curve. He spent the entire season in Altoona, which was a setback to his timetable. He also was converted to the pen. The righty started three games and then went on the DL with an oblique injury. Morris came back in May, first from the pen to build up stamina, then started three more times with disappointing results, and by June became a permanent reliever. He seemed to thrive there, pitching better and adding a couple of ticks to his heater. His line was 3-4-3/3.35, with 29 of his 35 outings from the bullpen.
He began the 2012 season with the AAA Indianapolis Indians. He joined the Pirates for the first time on June 24th, watched a game, and went back down when Jeff Karstens came off the DL. Morris was 2-2-14/2.67 with the Tribe, collecting 69 K in 71 IP. He was recalled again on September 10th after Indy's playoffs, and made his MLB debut on September 14th, tossing a scoreless inning against the Cubs.
Oddly, Clint Hurdle didn't use him much, as Morris just worked five innings in five appearances, giving up one earned run on two hits with two walks and six whiffs. He should have been in line to have gotten a pretty heavy dose of work, as he enters 2013 out of options and so has to be on the roster, because if he's not, he'll surely be on someone else's.
Morris' fastball averaged 93-94 during his brief Pittsburgh audition. He features a cutter/slider combo with a show-me curve, which was his go-to pitch as a starter, and got 20% swinging strikes with a 30% K and 10% walk rate during his brief stay in Pittsburgh. Converted starter Morris seems to be the logical candidate to replace Brad Lincoln as a multi-purpose arm, capable of being a set-up guy or tossing a couple or three innings if needed, although it's possible the Bucs see Chris Leroux in that role.
Though he didn't get a lot of work, he's a cinch to be on the roster when the Bucs break camp in the spring. Beside his lack of options, there should be a couple of holes in the pen that need filled no matter what bullpen scenario the FO decides on in 2013.
Showing posts with label bryan morris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bryan morris. Show all posts
Friday, October 26, 2012
Friday, October 8, 2010
Owens, Morris Make Eastern League Prospects List
Baseball America released its Top Twenty Prospects List for the Eastern League today, and Altoona pitchers Bryan Morris and repeat Pirate Minor League Pitcher of the Year Rudy Owens were rated fourteenth and fifteenth.
RHP Morris, 23, was 6-4 with a 4.25 ERA after being called up from Bradenton. He struck out 84 and walked 31 in 89 innings, and spent the end of the year in the bullpen to limit his 2010 innings. Morris features a 92-94 MPH heater with an upper eighties curve, with the potential to be #3 starter in the bigs.
Owens, 22 (he'll turn 23 in December), was 21-6 with a 2.45 ERA. He K'ed 132 and walked just 23 in 150 innings of work with a WHIP of .0980. He's a control guy with a low 90 heater and mix of pitches, and is considered a middle of the staff rotation prospect.
RHP Morris, 23, was 6-4 with a 4.25 ERA after being called up from Bradenton. He struck out 84 and walked 31 in 89 innings, and spent the end of the year in the bullpen to limit his 2010 innings. Morris features a 92-94 MPH heater with an upper eighties curve, with the potential to be #3 starter in the bigs.
Owens, 22 (he'll turn 23 in December), was 21-6 with a 2.45 ERA. He K'ed 132 and walked just 23 in 150 innings of work with a WHIP of .0980. He's a control guy with a low 90 heater and mix of pitches, and is considered a middle of the staff rotation prospect.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
#13 - Bryan Morris
Avery Bryan Morris, the 6-3, 200 pound righty, was touted as the guy with the most upside in the Jay Bay deal, outshining Andy LaRoche and Brandon Moss in the scouts' eyes.
It hasn't exactly worked out that way yet, but hey, give it time. The kid's only 22 (he'll be 23 in March), and hopefully he'll get through 2010 in one piece and with a more polished delivery than the player the Bucs got in 2008.
A native of Wodbury, Tennessee, he threw for Tullahoma High, and pretty well, too - his first two games during his senior year were no-hitters. Tampa Bay noticed, and selected him in the third round of the 2005 draft. He passed on signing after a $1M bonus offer from the short-pocketed Rays was withdrawn.
Morris went off to Motlow State Community College, not exactly a powerhouse. He mowed down his overmatched foes and finished the year 10-1 with an 0.82 ERA. That's good work even if you're in a beer league, and he became the 29th rated prospect by Baseball America for the next draft.
He was a first round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006, taken with the 26th selection, a compensatory slot for losing Jeff Weaver. The Big Blue ponied up and inked him quickly for $1,325,000.
It was off to the Pioneer League's Ogden nine, where he went 4-5 with a 5.13 ERA in 79-2/3 innings of work. Morris ran up some startling numbers - 40 walks, somewhat balanced by 79 whiffs. He was bringing the heat at 96-97 MPH; he just wasn't sure where it was going.
Morris missed all of 2007 and early 2008 with Tommy John surgery. He recovered, and went to Class A Great Lakes in the Midwestern league, where he posted a 2-4 slate with a 3.20 ERA in 81-2/3 frames. His numbers came back to earth, with 72 strikeouts and 31 walks.
He entered 2008 as the #12 prospect in the Dodger farm system according to BA, and was generally ranked in the top 15 by the other services.
Then Morris came to Pittsburgh, and finished up with a cup of coffee at Hickory. He was shut down for the last month of the season due to bicep soreness, and then had offseason surgery correct a previous issue with his big toe.
With all that, he came ready to pitch in 2009. But just as the season was ready to kick off, he was bothered by shoulder inflammation and didn't come back until June 7th. Beginning to notice a trend?
It was not a good year for Morris, at least at the outset. He was ripped in June and July pitching for High A Lynchburg. After one dismal start, he ragged the ump and blew up in the dugout, managing to get himself suspended by the Buccos, who insist on good citizenship if not good pitching.
While serving his suspension, Morris went to Bradenton to work on his mechanics. Apparently, a light went on. He recorded four quality starts in his last six games for the Hillcats following his wrist slap, after having just one in his ten prior starts.
As for him being a head case, we think not. His eruption at Lynchburg is the only blot on his record, and we suspect frustration got the upper hand on him that day.
The Pirates are working on what they see as the core issue regarding his control issues and arm injuries, a funky, high effort delivery that finishes with him releasing the ball across his body.
That's the tinkering the Pirate pitching mechanics worked on correcting at Bradenton, trying to smooth out his motion and straightening his release angle. In a couple of interviews, Morris says his arm feels as good as it ever has, and the results after his visit to Pirate City seemed to bear fruit.
Morris also was one of the Pirate prospects that was fairly limited in digging into his pitching tool kit. He throws a low-90s fastball, touching 95, a plus curve, and a work-in-progress changeup with OK sink.
But the Bucco suits pretty much kept him throwing the heat, both because of his injury history and because that's how they start all their young pitchers off, by preaching fastball control.
For his future, well, a lot rides on whether his new and improved delivery proves repeatable and relieves the stress on his arm. Morris has just 228-1/3 professional innings under his belt, so he needs to get some game action.
If he holds up, he's projected to be a number 2 or 3 pitcher in a MLB rotation, and that's where the Pirates see his value.
If not, they could eventually swing him to the dark side and look at him as a closer; that fastball/curve combo for an inning could be his ticket to the show. But that's definitely Plan B; they much prefer him to pitch every fifth day.
Morris could begin the 2010 season with Altoona, if the Pirates promote him as aggressively as most of their pups. But with his lack of experience and arm woes, he could just as easily start at High A Bradenton until he shows he's ready to handle the jump. (EDIT - Morris will start 2010 in Altoona)
(Next - #12 Quinton Miller)
It hasn't exactly worked out that way yet, but hey, give it time. The kid's only 22 (he'll be 23 in March), and hopefully he'll get through 2010 in one piece and with a more polished delivery than the player the Bucs got in 2008.
A native of Wodbury, Tennessee, he threw for Tullahoma High, and pretty well, too - his first two games during his senior year were no-hitters. Tampa Bay noticed, and selected him in the third round of the 2005 draft. He passed on signing after a $1M bonus offer from the short-pocketed Rays was withdrawn.
Morris went off to Motlow State Community College, not exactly a powerhouse. He mowed down his overmatched foes and finished the year 10-1 with an 0.82 ERA. That's good work even if you're in a beer league, and he became the 29th rated prospect by Baseball America for the next draft.
He was a first round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006, taken with the 26th selection, a compensatory slot for losing Jeff Weaver. The Big Blue ponied up and inked him quickly for $1,325,000.
It was off to the Pioneer League's Ogden nine, where he went 4-5 with a 5.13 ERA in 79-2/3 innings of work. Morris ran up some startling numbers - 40 walks, somewhat balanced by 79 whiffs. He was bringing the heat at 96-97 MPH; he just wasn't sure where it was going.
Morris missed all of 2007 and early 2008 with Tommy John surgery. He recovered, and went to Class A Great Lakes in the Midwestern league, where he posted a 2-4 slate with a 3.20 ERA in 81-2/3 frames. His numbers came back to earth, with 72 strikeouts and 31 walks.
He entered 2008 as the #12 prospect in the Dodger farm system according to BA, and was generally ranked in the top 15 by the other services.
Then Morris came to Pittsburgh, and finished up with a cup of coffee at Hickory. He was shut down for the last month of the season due to bicep soreness, and then had offseason surgery correct a previous issue with his big toe.
With all that, he came ready to pitch in 2009. But just as the season was ready to kick off, he was bothered by shoulder inflammation and didn't come back until June 7th. Beginning to notice a trend?
It was not a good year for Morris, at least at the outset. He was ripped in June and July pitching for High A Lynchburg. After one dismal start, he ragged the ump and blew up in the dugout, managing to get himself suspended by the Buccos, who insist on good citizenship if not good pitching.
While serving his suspension, Morris went to Bradenton to work on his mechanics. Apparently, a light went on. He recorded four quality starts in his last six games for the Hillcats following his wrist slap, after having just one in his ten prior starts.
As for him being a head case, we think not. His eruption at Lynchburg is the only blot on his record, and we suspect frustration got the upper hand on him that day.
The Pirates are working on what they see as the core issue regarding his control issues and arm injuries, a funky, high effort delivery that finishes with him releasing the ball across his body.
That's the tinkering the Pirate pitching mechanics worked on correcting at Bradenton, trying to smooth out his motion and straightening his release angle. In a couple of interviews, Morris says his arm feels as good as it ever has, and the results after his visit to Pirate City seemed to bear fruit.
Morris also was one of the Pirate prospects that was fairly limited in digging into his pitching tool kit. He throws a low-90s fastball, touching 95, a plus curve, and a work-in-progress changeup with OK sink.
But the Bucco suits pretty much kept him throwing the heat, both because of his injury history and because that's how they start all their young pitchers off, by preaching fastball control.
For his future, well, a lot rides on whether his new and improved delivery proves repeatable and relieves the stress on his arm. Morris has just 228-1/3 professional innings under his belt, so he needs to get some game action.
If he holds up, he's projected to be a number 2 or 3 pitcher in a MLB rotation, and that's where the Pirates see his value.
If not, they could eventually swing him to the dark side and look at him as a closer; that fastball/curve combo for an inning could be his ticket to the show. But that's definitely Plan B; they much prefer him to pitch every fifth day.
Morris could begin the 2010 season with Altoona, if the Pirates promote him as aggressively as most of their pups. But with his lack of experience and arm woes, he could just as easily start at High A Bradenton until he shows he's ready to handle the jump. (EDIT - Morris will start 2010 in Altoona)
(Next - #12 Quinton Miller)
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Jay Bay, Bosox Bound
The Bucs wrangled right up to the deadline, putting together all sorts of Jay Bay configurations in an effort to land a top notch pitching prospect from the Marlins or Tampa.
After an exasperating night and day, they finally pulled the trigger, but with Boston and LA, in a 3-way deal.
The Pirates ended up with 3B Andy LaRoche, Adam's bro, OF Brandon Moss, and RHPs Craig Hansen and Bryan Morris. LaRoche, Moss and Hansen will join the Pirates for their game tomorrow in Chicago. Morris will be assigned to Class A Hickory.
> Brandon Moss, 24, an 8th round pick in 2002, is an athletic outfielder with a good arm that hits to all fields. He has slightly above average speed, and is supposed to be a solid fielder that plays the game right. It looks like they plan to plug him into Bay's LF spot.
The lefty Moss is still a work in progress, ala Steve Pearce, in that he switched from first to the OF in late 2007. In the past couple of years with the Red Sox, he's garnered 103 AB's, with a .291 average, 2 HR's, 12 RBI, 10 BB's and 31 K's. You can also count on him going down on strikes every 3 or 4 at bats.
> RHP Craig Hansen, 24, has a fastball that clocks at about 92-93 mph and touches 97. He also has a high-80s slider, which sometimes disappears. But he also struggles by getting behind early in counts. Hansen will fit right in at Pittsburgh that way.
He was used purely out of the pen by Boston, and will go as far as his command takes him. Hansen's arm is live enough to close if he can find the plate often enough.
He spent the last three years with the Sox, and was called into 74 games, covering 71-2/3 innings. Hansen had a 3-5 record and 6.15 ERA over that time. He's 1-3 with 2 saves and a 5.58 ERA in 2008.
> Bryan Morris, 21, is a RHP drafted in the first round by the Dodgers in 2005 out of junior college, and Scout.com has him ranked as LA's #11 prospect. He has a 93 MPH heater that sinks and an above average curve.
Morris underwent Tommy John surgery on Sept. 28, 2006, and just came back this season, pitching for the A Great Lake Loons. He's 2-4 with a 4.00 ERA and 1.29 WHIP as a starter there, and still obviously needs to build up arm strength.
He's projected by most baseball gurus as having middle of the rotation talent.
> Baseball Prospectus has RH Andy LaRoche, 24, listed as the Dodger's #2 prospect and a five star player. He's gotten 152 at bats in LA the past two seasons, hitting .216 with 3 HR's and 16 RBI. LaRoche has got a pretty good eye, K'ing 31 times and walking 30.
In March, LaRoche tore the ulnar collateral ligament of his right thumb, and was on the DL until May, just enough time to allow Blake DeWitt to bump him from the hot corner. To further crowd the position, Casey Blake came over from the Indians.
LaRoche showed some decent power in the minors, but hasn't flashed that muscle in the bigs. LA hasn't really given him much chance to strut his stuff.
It makes us kinda wonder just how far apart Pedro and the Bucs are in signing that contract, and if LaRoche isn't here as an insurance policy, or perhaps leverage to apply some pressure on Scott Boras.
He was drafted as a SS, so it's not a great leap of imagination to see him converted to 2B if the hot corner gets glutted.
All in all, better than the package deals floated in the past 24 hours. Pittsburgh got a couple of mid-level MLB players in Moss and Hansen - Boston got away cheap - and some slightly damaged but upside talent from LA with LaRoche and Morris.
And Pittsburgh kept Jack Splat and John Grabow around to fight for another day. So the Pirates still have their field captain and avoid another hit on the bullpen.
Still, it's disappointing to see the three heavy hitters leave town without an elite arm coming back. The suits did stick to their guns though, and wouldn't come down in price for Tampa or Florida.
Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors.com:
The deal necessitated some housecleaning by the Pirates.
To clear space on the 25-man roster, the Pirates optioned SS Brian Bixler back to Indy and DFA'ed RHP Frankie Osoria. CF Chris Duffy was also DFA'ed to make room on the 40-man roster. We were hoping to get something from, or at least for, him, but injuries and Nate McLouth dimmed his star.
After an exasperating night and day, they finally pulled the trigger, but with Boston and LA, in a 3-way deal.
The Pirates ended up with 3B Andy LaRoche, Adam's bro, OF Brandon Moss, and RHPs Craig Hansen and Bryan Morris. LaRoche, Moss and Hansen will join the Pirates for their game tomorrow in Chicago. Morris will be assigned to Class A Hickory.
> Brandon Moss, 24, an 8th round pick in 2002, is an athletic outfielder with a good arm that hits to all fields. He has slightly above average speed, and is supposed to be a solid fielder that plays the game right. It looks like they plan to plug him into Bay's LF spot.
The lefty Moss is still a work in progress, ala Steve Pearce, in that he switched from first to the OF in late 2007. In the past couple of years with the Red Sox, he's garnered 103 AB's, with a .291 average, 2 HR's, 12 RBI, 10 BB's and 31 K's. You can also count on him going down on strikes every 3 or 4 at bats.
> RHP Craig Hansen, 24, has a fastball that clocks at about 92-93 mph and touches 97. He also has a high-80s slider, which sometimes disappears. But he also struggles by getting behind early in counts. Hansen will fit right in at Pittsburgh that way.
He was used purely out of the pen by Boston, and will go as far as his command takes him. Hansen's arm is live enough to close if he can find the plate often enough.
He spent the last three years with the Sox, and was called into 74 games, covering 71-2/3 innings. Hansen had a 3-5 record and 6.15 ERA over that time. He's 1-3 with 2 saves and a 5.58 ERA in 2008.
> Bryan Morris, 21, is a RHP drafted in the first round by the Dodgers in 2005 out of junior college, and Scout.com has him ranked as LA's #11 prospect. He has a 93 MPH heater that sinks and an above average curve.
Morris underwent Tommy John surgery on Sept. 28, 2006, and just came back this season, pitching for the A Great Lake Loons. He's 2-4 with a 4.00 ERA and 1.29 WHIP as a starter there, and still obviously needs to build up arm strength.
He's projected by most baseball gurus as having middle of the rotation talent.
> Baseball Prospectus has RH Andy LaRoche, 24, listed as the Dodger's #2 prospect and a five star player. He's gotten 152 at bats in LA the past two seasons, hitting .216 with 3 HR's and 16 RBI. LaRoche has got a pretty good eye, K'ing 31 times and walking 30.
In March, LaRoche tore the ulnar collateral ligament of his right thumb, and was on the DL until May, just enough time to allow Blake DeWitt to bump him from the hot corner. To further crowd the position, Casey Blake came over from the Indians.
LaRoche showed some decent power in the minors, but hasn't flashed that muscle in the bigs. LA hasn't really given him much chance to strut his stuff.
It makes us kinda wonder just how far apart Pedro and the Bucs are in signing that contract, and if LaRoche isn't here as an insurance policy, or perhaps leverage to apply some pressure on Scott Boras.
He was drafted as a SS, so it's not a great leap of imagination to see him converted to 2B if the hot corner gets glutted.
All in all, better than the package deals floated in the past 24 hours. Pittsburgh got a couple of mid-level MLB players in Moss and Hansen - Boston got away cheap - and some slightly damaged but upside talent from LA with LaRoche and Morris.
And Pittsburgh kept Jack Splat and John Grabow around to fight for another day. So the Pirates still have their field captain and avoid another hit on the bullpen.
Still, it's disappointing to see the three heavy hitters leave town without an elite arm coming back. The suits did stick to their guns though, and wouldn't come down in price for Tampa or Florida.
Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors.com:
For 1.3 years of Bay, the Pirates receive LaRoche, Morris, Hansen, and Moss. Moss becomes the regular left fielder, LaRoche takes over at third until Pedro Alvarez is ready. When that happens, they might have a good problem on their hands. Future Pirates' outfield: Moss, McCutchen, McLouth. The pitchers are a couple of live arms at this point.
The deal necessitated some housecleaning by the Pirates.
To clear space on the 25-man roster, the Pirates optioned SS Brian Bixler back to Indy and DFA'ed RHP Frankie Osoria. CF Chris Duffy was also DFA'ed to make room on the 40-man roster. We were hoping to get something from, or at least for, him, but injuries and Nate McLouth dimmed his star.
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