College Play
Morrow played his college ball at Oregon State University where he played 4 years. He excelled in college and showed throughout his 4 years his knack to be a great contact hitter with an above average eye. If he would have come out after his Junior year, many scouts say he would have been a for sure 1st round pick. He compiled a triple slash line of .437/.591/.739 while walking 32 times and striking out only 20 times. The batting average he put up that year stands as 2nd all time in the collegiate ranks and the OBP of .591 still sets the mark as the best ever seen by a collegiate player. His Senior year went well, but nothing compared to the record setting junior year, and he finished his college career with 137 hits, 40 2B, 8 HR and 66 RBI. His final slash line of .354/.517/.530. His career BA its in the Top 60, and his OBP currently sits 6th all time at the college level.
Draft and Early Years
Morrow was drafted int the 2nd round of the 2010 draft, 42nd overall by the Jersey Shore D-Bags. Josh Swain, GM of Jersey Shore, had Morrow listed in his Top 10 and was shocked when he fell to the Bags in the 2nd round. The 22 year old signed quickly and was sent to Single A affiliate Manhattan. As many first year players do, he struggled. He played in 21 games that year getting 67 AB's. He only managed to get 8 hits, one being a HR, and struck out 23 times without taking a walk. Morrow got down on himself for not being prepared and went home to Minnesota for the winter where he worked long hours on his swing and worked on the transition from the metal college bats to the wooden ones used at the professional level. In 2011 he was sent back to Manhattan where he got a full year's play in. While he didn't light the world on fire, he was improved. He hit .242/.302/.312 while still K'ing 119 times in 458 AB's. In the winter of 2011 Morrow put on 15 pounds of muscle and came to play in 2012. The 23 year old came in as a leader, cut his K's dramatically and played the first 5 weeks in Manhattan getting on base at an alarming rate. In 27 games he was hitting .366 and getting on base at a .440 clip, cutting down his K-rate even more, and after a 3-4 game a trip to the manager's office produced a promotion to AA Gainesville.
Promotions and Success
After being sent to Gainesville in 2012, he started at Third Base immediately. His gap power took a turn for the best and ended the year with 20 2B, 2 3B, and 3HR. In 125 games he hit .292/.351/.356. Though he did strikeout 122 times in 517 AB, he walked 48 times, just slightly less than he did in 1.5 season in Manhattan. While his OPS+ of 99 didn't lead the team or jump out on the page to start the 2013 season Morrow was promoted to play for the AAA affiliate in Tuscaloosa, AL. Before the season started the BSA named him the 90th best prospect in baseball, the first time he had the honor of being included on this list. He joined the Troutslayers, which had won the ITL Championship the year before. He joined a powerful offense that included Derrick Wright, Mario Ramirez, Alberto Perez among others. Through 121 games thus far this season Morrow has shown why he was listed on the Top 100 prospects list. He has hit .327/.405/.429 while hitting a career high 7 HR. His K/BB ratio is also the best it's been in his career, K'ing 83 times to taking 58 BB.
The Future
Being 25 and excelling in AAA, Morrow's future looks very bright. Although the D-Bags currently have a jammed packed roster at 1B, 3B and SS, if Morrow keeps it up the D-Bags will have to find AB's for him. Jersey has never been known to rush along players and Morrow will likely spend the rest of the year in AAA, possibly getting a September call-up. Morrow is currently not on the 40-ran roster and must be placed there before the Rule V draft or the D-Bags will risk losing him. GM Josh Swain thinks that Morrow could be a cog at the top of the Jersey lineup for years to come. Is he right? Or will Morrow just become a utility player? Only time will tell.
Next lookback: 2012 1st round pick Ernesto Barzaga
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