Grateful for chance, Adam Morgan impresses
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Grateful for chance, Adam Morgan impresses
Matt Gelb
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Adam Morgan has no intentions of deleting this voicemail until there is another one more worthy. He was working out in Marietta, Ga., last December when a Phillies official called to extend Morgan an invitation to big-league spring training.
"December 18," said Morgan, who has the date memorized.
It will not be long until Morgan makes the walk from Bright House Field to the Carpenter Complex. The 22-year-old lefty has but six double-A starts. No matter how well he performs in this, his first real audition, Morgan is ticketed for the minors.
The goal is to make as good of an impression as possible. Morgan pitched two innings in Friday's intrasquad game and faced the minimum six batters. He struck out two — Ryan Howard and John Mayberry Jr. — while aided by two double-play balls.
"I'm playing for over a month with the best players in the world," Morgan said. "I hold myself to a high standard to go out there and I really believe I can compete with these guys."
Morgan is a fast riser. The University of Alabama product was selected in the third round of the 2011 draft, started at single-A Clearwater, and finished at Reading. In all, he totaled a 3.35 ERA with 169 strikeouts in 158 2/3 innings. He throws four pitches, a skill that had scouts gushing late last season.
On Friday, he froze Howard with a nifty back-door change-up for a called strike three.
Pitching coach Rich Dubee relayed a scouting report on Morgan, saying he succeed with various combinations of his arsenal on a given night. There are few better ways to describe a young arm.
Catcher Steven Lerud saw Morgan, along with Jonathan Pettibone and Ethan Martin, all at double A in 2012. Lerud said Pettibone, considered the most polished of the pitching prospects, stuck out the most "just with his mound presence and ability to throw strikes at that age."
Pettibone was hit hard in Friday's scrimmage. He allowed three runs in 1 1/3 innings.
What impressed Lerud about Morgan was his confidence and ability to throw what he wants when he wants.
"He's going to be special," Lerud said.
And maybe, one day, the Phillies will remember the first impression he made in a meaningless intrasquad game.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Stop the presses! I was led to believe that the Phils have ZERO high-ceiling talent in their minor league system. What happened?! I feel like I've been duped...— The Pack Leader- You have, you were, and you will continue to be (duped) reading the writing here.
— 24sDad - shut up dork, we get it...you arent a Phils fan. Stop being a clown, all your comments are the same garbage. — jerseyfresh22
- As we all know, whomever makes the top 100 list of prospects simply does not know ALL the prospects. There are plenty of prospect just under the radar that outshine the expert opinions. Ruf raked today. He has to.— drhoffman
Stop reading what people think about our prospects. Go to MILB.COM and buy the season. You can watch all the Lehigh home games and half their away games on your computer. There are some Reading games as well.— zubzub- esp since Gelb calls Morgan a righthander ..evident Gelb hasn't looked at accompanying photo. Cmon Matt it's simple research.— righty
- He is a righthander, but his move is so deceptive, it just looks like he is throwing lefty. — Charles B
- True, one day of good hitting may mean nothing, but it feels better than if they struck out at bat. Choose to enjoy— Barneyboy
- Morgan has been impressing people all over baseball for the last 15 months. He does in fact look like he may be special. Maybe ticketed for AAA and to take Lannan's spot in the rotation next year? Looks like DBrown and Ruf made a blood pact with eachother to put their OF competition on hold while they both crush any other OF candidates for this team. We could only hope that with DBrown, Ruf, Morgan and the kids in the pen, this team is gonna get a lot younger very quickly.— Mark1npt
- Base case scenerio,, Ruff takes the left field job,, hits 280 with 20 homers and 80 rbi. Brown takes the right field job (with his rifle arm),, hits 280 with 20 homers and 80 rbi. Young is 3rd outfielder. Go Phillies.— phillyroni
- Darin Ruf wasn't on any of those lists until late last year. Give those lists their worth and use them to line your litter box.— drbob1
