Morgan rising rapidly through Phillies farm system
Adam Morgan provided another reason why Jesse Biddle's expected climb through the minor leagues to an eventual spot in the Phillies' starting rotation is so intriguing.
Morgan rising rapidly through Phillies farm system
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
Adam Morgan provided another reason why Jesse Biddle’s expected climb through the minor leagues to an eventual spot in the Phillies’ starting rotation is so intriguing.
The two men were teammates last season at single-A Clearwater and there is a panoramic photograph just outside the clubhouse that captures the players and the crowd celebrating immediately after the Phillies won the 2008 World Series. The same photo hangs just outside the clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park.
“Every time we walked past it, he’d tell me how he is in that picture,” Morgan said last week during the Phillies’ prospect training seminar. “You can see the back of his head and he’s in a Phillies jacket. He would always show us where he was at in the crowd. You can really see him.”
Biddle, the team’s 2010 first-round draft choice, was a 17-year-old high school junior at Germantown Friends School when the Phillies won the World Series. This season, his fourth in professional baseball, he is slated to open the season at double-A Reading.
That’s where Morgan, a third-round draft choice in 2011, finished last season. Although he is not as physically imposing or highly touted as Biddle, the 6-foot-1 Morgan has opened the Phillies’ eyes with his performance to date. He went a combined 8-11 with a 3.35 ERA at Clearwater and Reading last season after getting a better grasp on how to throw a changeup and adding a few miles per hour to his fastball.
His promotion from Clearwater to Reading in the middle of the season took him by surprise and made him realize how close he was getting to the big leagues.
“I never thought that I’d get to double-A so fast, but I wasn’t going to let that intimidate me,” Morgan said. “I took it stride by stride and just relied on what got me there.”
Morgan, a lefthander, did not leave Alabama with all that impressive of a resume. The Marietta, Ga. native had a 4.64 ERA his junior season when he was drafted and a 6.18 ERA in 18 starts as a sophomore.
“At Alabama, I had a lot of peaks and valleys,” he said. “I would always try to correct something when I was going bad.”
Morgan, 22, said developing a changeup and a consistent routine has helped him become a better pitcher.
“Developing the changeup was huge, but really knowing what worked for me … and staying disciplined to that routine even when I didn’t have a good game was even more important,” Morgan said. “Sticking with my routine no matter what really helped me out.”
Morgan said Clearwater pitching coach David Lundquist was vital to his success last season, but he also kept in contact with Lance Carter, his first professional pitching coach at Williamsport in 2011. Carter was the pitching coach at the University of South Florida in Tampa last year.
“He could me once every few weeks and ask me how I was doing,” Morgan said. “He’d keep me on track. He’d say, ‘You’re having a great year, but don’t slack off and think you’re some hot shot. Stay humble.’ That’s what I have prided myself on.”
It’s possible Morgan and Biddle could be teammates at the start of this season at Reading. It’s also possible they’ll eventually be teammates in Philadelphia, where Biddle will get to point out again exactly where he is among the crowd in the photograph that celebrates the Phillies’ 2008 World Series title.
I am disappointed that the moronic dogbiscuit has the stones to call anyone else imbecilic. Look in the mirror, pal, if you want to see something pathetic.— PhillySubsMac- i am disappointed that despite an IQ of 80-plus, despite a life full of amazing accomplishments (mainly, i'm still above ground at 75), i still read dreck like these posts. i definitely need help, and promise i will seek it as soon as the phillies win their next ws.— bubba church & granny hamner
- I think Rube will be the gm of the year this year. This sea biscuit fellow is a loser.— oakmontleo
- I am disappointed in how disappointed I am.— dirttracker
- I am disappointed in how disappointed I am.— dirttracker
- Gee whiz, how did this rapid rise happen? One whole level in a year? That's unheard of.— gubbers97
- I was disappointed until I learned the 76ers season already is half over- now I am not so disappointed. But, I am not as disappointed as when Manti Te'o learned that his digitally inflatable g/f has cost him millions of dollars. That has to be more disappointing than watching the 76ers.— rwolffd12
- I'm happy that PeaceBone is still disappointed.— simplefreedom
- Morgan made great strides in his first full minor league season, and was one of 3 solid LH starters who pitched at Clearwater int he first half of 2012...We know Biddle, local kid and on track to CBP around 2014...Morgan might see the bigs this season, an may even be a decent trade chip...Not publicized much, but figure on Austin Wright to also make a move into the brass' sights.— bearsfriend
- Morgan reminds me a bit of John Tudor.
Shortish, lefty, stuff.
Trade chip is probably right.— 24sDad - that was a lame article— beefbre
- The people who are complaining about the off season moves would be the same people who would be complaining if they signed one of these over valued free agents to a long term deal (and also losing out 1st round pick). They need to get younger and the guys we are paying all of the money to need to step it up.— CRK
- did this prospect suffer a brain injury just before this article's photo was snapped?— zwarte piet
- Amaro is afraid to make any big moves after the collapse of the 2011 moves he made. He can only hope that some of his present new prospects reward him by over achieving,— Lew Klein
- I am very disappointed in the inauguration yesterday.— Breaking Bad
