Greg Hall
I remember my 2015 Fantasy Football draft so well. I drafted newly signed Eagle DeMarco Murray sixth overall and finished 10th out of 12 teams that season… Murray was not my only mistake that draft.
I also vividly remember the Phillies game from that night. It was Aug 24, a Monday evening, and the Phillies got crushed 16-7 by the New York Mets. Man, I hate the Mets.
Of the 20 Mets hits in that game, eight of them were home runs. Four of those homers were surrendered by rookie left-hander Adam Morgan, who made his major league debut just two months earlier.
My buddy looked at me after Wilmer Flores hit his first of two homers and his direct quote was, “I am already so over Adam Morgan. Dude is trash. Always will be.”
That same person won the football league that year – just thought that would be an interesting tidbit to share.
In his distaste of Morgan, it was the last sentence stuck out to me.
Prospects are one of the toughest parts of the job to project across all front offices, especially in baseball. Players almost never get the call to the big leagues the same year they are drafted; not only is the draft held mid-season in June, but it generally takes young players a few years to develop.
Morgan is no different. A third-round pick in 2011, Morgan did not see a major league mound until June of 2015, as mentioned above. He pitched his first two years mostly as a starter. Across 36 starts (and two relief appearances), he gave up 118 earned runs across 197 2/3 innings. His next two seasons, exclusively out of the bullpen, did not live up to his high expectations, either. The Phillies were 47-57 in games in which he appeared and Morgan’s ERA was approaching 4.00.
However, things were quietly beginning to turn around for him in 2018. He posted his lowest career ERA of 3.83 and struck out 50 hitters in 49 1/3 innings. In fact, he only had one outing of more than two earned runs scored against him and that was in a 12-3 blowout loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in June.
Morgan’s reputation over his first three years was his perception, but the reality was that he was becoming a true weapon out of the Phillies pen. Fast forward to this season and we now know why general manager Matt Klentak was not only getting calls about Morgan’s availability, but why he decided to hang on to his inconsistent lefty.
The Phillies are 11-3 in games Morgan has appeared in this season, all while he has yet to give up an earned run. Of the six runners Morgan has inherited, none of them have crossed home plate. He has been unhittable in 2019, but why? How has a pitcher with a career WHIP of 1.35 all of a sudden only allowed six baserunners in 10 2/3 innings?
He is throwing strikes. Early and often.
His career best 69.8 percent strike rate coupled with a first pitch strike percentage of 73 percent (also a career high) are helping to generate career bests in both swinging strike and foul ball percentage. Long story short, he is not wasting many pitches. His 3.76 pitches per plate appearance is his lowest since both his rookie year and his conversion to a reliever. Balls have only been put in play on 59 percent of the 37 hitters Morgan has faced. He has reportedly added almost two full inches of break to his slider, which has been a devastating pitch to both lefties and righties this season.
Finally, he is also passing the eye test with the fan base.
*Wispers* Adam Morgan has played in 14 games and still hasn’t let up a run yet
— HUNTER PENCE IS THE GOAT (@SMGPhilly) April 29, 2019
Vinny Velasquez has been the best starter and Adam Morgan has been the best reliever. Just like we anticipated
— Paid Ya Stojakovic (@Brookscass) April 28, 2019
Adam Morgan’s breakout has arrived and we should all enjoy the ride.
You can follow Greg Hall on Twitter (@WePodAndWeKnow) and e-mail him at [email protected].
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