If there’s one player in the Mets minor league system that I find the most intriguing and who I’d most like to see succeed, it’s right-handed pitcher Akeel Morris. His is not a name that will be found atop of many top prospects lists, nor does his name have a lot of buzz around it. But two or three years down the line, that could easily change.
Morris spent 2010 in the Gulf Coast League as a seventeen year old after being drafted in the 10th round of last June’s draft. He made just eight appearances in his first professional season, starting six of those games. In less than 25 innings he had nearly as many strikeouts (28) as he gave up hits and walks combined (30). It’s a small sample, but the numbers are encouraging, but not as encouraging as his stuff. Even at such a young age, Morris has what has been described as an electric arm, with a plus fastball that sits in the low 90’s, which can certainly increase in velocity as he gets older and fills out. His breaking ball and change also show great promise for a youngster, meaning that the sky could be the limit for him.
Obviously a young power arm with almost limitless potential is going to be a favorite to see succeed for what he can do on the mound. But even beyond that, if Morris gets to the major leagues, his will be an endearing tale of a young kid who was overlooked, but made it to the big leagues against tremendous odds. Morris is from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, not a place known for producing a lot of major league talent, and as a result he fell to the tenth round of the draft and was selected 302nd overall. Coming from a remote location that doesn’t play a lot of baseball will make his trek to the big league all the more challenging, but at the same time all the more gratifying if e completes the journey.
Thus far, Morris’ performance has upheld the Mets decision to draft him, and while he has a long way to go, he has exhibited tremendous potential, and definitely has a shot to reach the big leagues one day. Between being overlooked and the underdog status given to Morris because of his homeland, and the tremendous talent Akeel Morris has, it’s tough not to root for him to make it to the major leagues, and there’s no doubt that he will be a guy to watch in the Mets minor league system for years to come as he makes his way towards Flushing.
Akeel Morris
46 comments
njstuckintx
11/19/2010-2:05pm at 2:05 pm (UTC -4)
I liked.
Prismo
11/19/2010-2:17pm at 2:17 pm (UTC -4)
Very nice! A player I haven’t heard of who has potential – perfect piece. Very happy with our two new minor league guys so far.
Though still curious why TRS didn’t want us to rename the minor league section of the blog “Real Dirty Minors”…
Mr North Jersey
11/19/2010-2:24pm at 2:24 pm (UTC -4)
Cue the Drumroll..
stickguy
11/19/2010-2:47pm at 2:47 pm (UTC -4)
electric arms are a good thing to have. Better than all soft tossing control guys!
Morris actually put up very similar #s as a 17 YO to some kid named Gooden that the mets used to have. I seem to recall that he moved up kind of quick!
interesting to look at DGs MiL stats. Turly a different time. went from 78 innings at age 17, to 191 at 19. Then the majors, and well over 200.
bizarre peripherals in his 2nd year. Whip was OK at 1.22, but his walk rate was terrible (5.3/9). I guess he made up for it with an obscene 14+ K/9 rate!
pretty much looked like he had unhittable stuff, but not a hell of a lot of control over where it was going! And no kid at that age today will throw that many pitches.
Not saying Morris will move like this, but if you got the goods at 17, you just might hit the show at 20
metsfan4decades
11/19/2010-3:29pm at 3:29 pm (UTC -4)
Funny, Doc Gooden popped into my mind too when I was reading this article. Probably just wishful thinking on my part. Or he was on my mind more so after watching that SNY interview with him last nigh.
TRS86
11/19/2010-2:49pm at 2:49 pm (UTC -4)
Welcome to our second minor league guy. Still got one more. May keep you waiting until Monday.
oleosmirf
11/19/2010-2:51pm at 2:51 pm (UTC -4)
when he gets to AA let me know. i dont like to follow hype until a player reaches a level where the majority of players in that league will or have seen some type of MLB action.
GravediggerHebner
11/19/2010-2:51pm at 2:51 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve been a Mets fan since the mid-70′s but for a long time I never really paid much attention to the minor leagues. For a long time it was next to impossible but then as the information became more readily available I just wasn’t intrigued by it.
I was content to hear the names the TV or radio announcers dropped, see who won the awards the organization would give out, then wait for their arrival which for the most part (mid-80′s the exception) was very underwhelming.
Around the turn of the century I started to develop a greater curiosity to the point where not only did I follow the box scores and game stories of the minor league teams where I could find them but I began to develop an interest in the draft.
During the spring of 2002 I really began to devour information, even calling 800 numbers and using credit cards to purchase professional draft kits. Through this reading a young left handed pitcher out of Texas caught my attention. When the Mets actually drafted Scott Kazmir it was nirvana for me. I looked forward to following his rise through the system and celebrating his triumphant arrival.
All Mets fans know what happened next. After Kazmir was traded away it was as if I had been mortally wounded. I lost all interest in draft eligible players and most of my interest in the minor leagues. I just didn’t want to invest the time and energy only to have my dream torn away from me like that.
So thankfully now I have you to dream for me. I look forward to following, from a distance, the journey of Akeel and others as they (hopefully) climb the minor league system through your eyes. Welcome to the blog.
metsfan4decades
11/19/2010-3:29pm at 3:29 pm (UTC -4)
This is perfect for someone like me.
I’m getting a probable long overdue education in saber metrics and I can keep up with all our ‘potentials’, even those in the lower minors.
One stop shopping on TRDMB. Keep ‘em coming, guys!
wannybackstra
11/19/2010-3:49pm at 3:49 pm (UTC -4)
Hopefully the presence of a young black star would benefit the Mets in the box office. Hard to believe how few we have seen here in recent years.
stickguy
11/19/2010-4:16pm at 4:16 pm (UTC -4)
it isn’t just the mets.
wannybackstra
11/19/2010-4:36pm at 4:36 pm (UTC -4)
I know, Stick.
Prismo
11/19/2010-4:21pm at 4:21 pm (UTC -4)
Two words: BLASTINGS THRILLEDGE
njstuckintx
11/19/2010-4:25pm at 4:25 pm (UTC -4)
Ah, blastings… We hardly high-fived you…
stickguy
11/19/2010-11:14pm at 11:14 pm (UTC -4)
don’t scoff, but I think he is just about ready to get his shat together and have some break out years.
remember, you heard it here 1st. And possibly only.
njstuckintx
11/19/2010-4:22pm at 4:22 pm (UTC -4)
Do you think race is a major player these days with baseball? (asking seriously)
wannybackstra
11/19/2010-4:40pm at 4:40 pm (UTC -4)
I think, unfortunately, race is a factor in every profession at some level. I’m not suggesting Omar, Sandy or the Wilpons are racists. But I think racial stereotypes still influence some assessments and I don’t doubt that some lower level guys, scouts perhaps, might favor one player over an another when his recommendations are made — even if not consciously.
What I mean by the former is that I think black baseball players are expected to be “toolsy.” Look at the Uptons, for example. I wonder if a black Daniel Murphy would stand a chance.
Of course, the real problem (if the lack of black baseball players could be categorized as such) really appears to be that young black athletes are not interested in baseball. Not when they can play hockey (okay, this last part wasn’t serious).
njstuckintx
11/19/2010-4:45pm at 4:45 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, I had read something similar, that based on percentages, black participation in Basketball and Football continued to increase, while decreasing in baseball. My guess is lack of playing facilities, but i’m sure there are a myriad of other reasons.
And for Hockey, I do have to say there are more black hockey players now than ever, if that means anything.
metsfan4decades
11/19/2010-6:06pm at 6:06 pm (UTC -4)
I saw some TV program on this last year – can’t remember in what context or when..
It had to do with, as you suggested, not enough playing facilities, especially for those who don’t have ready access as teenagers. Also something to do with a shorter path to more guaranteed success going into basketball and football then baseball anymore.
TRS86
11/19/2010-10:57pm at 10:57 pm (UTC -4)
Basketball and Football are pop. They are much more into pushing their stars over the team. In other words basketball and football are marketing themselves much better to the black teen. Not many play middle school or high school baseball because it’s not cool for them to do so.
oleosmirf
11/19/2010-4:45pm at 4:45 pm (UTC -4)
hey the Atlanta Thrashers (thats hockey) have 5 black players on their team. Thats more than the Yankees and Mets combined I believe.
Mr North Jersey
11/19/2010-4:51pm at 4:51 pm (UTC -4)
I am trying to decide how to best use that info.
njstuckintx
11/19/2010-4:54pm at 4:54 pm (UTC -4)
Is there an ethnicity site for players, a la who is white/black/hispanic/eskimo/etc.?
Mr North Jersey
11/19/2010-5:09pm at 5:09 pm (UTC -4)
what is the percentage breakdown of ethnicity amongst players in the MLB?
As of this April, the African American players in the MLB are 9%, 27% are Latino and 2.3% for Asians.
Mr North Jersey
11/19/2010-5:10pm at 5:10 pm (UTC -4)
http://www.kgbanswers.com/what-is-the-percentage-breakdown-of-ethnicity-amongst-players-in-the-mlb/7459257
Prismo
11/19/2010-5:43pm at 5:43 pm (UTC -4)
12.4% of Americans are African-American, so 9% for the bigs isn’t really a big deal. It seems about right, eh?
TRS86
11/19/2010-10:58pm at 10:58 pm (UTC -4)
Compare that percentage to other main stream sports.
wannybackstra
11/19/2010-5:00pm at 5:00 pm (UTC -4)
Kane, Byfuglien, Stewart, Oduya and ???
Only Byfuglien is American (Oduya is Swedish!). You can’t expect anyone of any race in Canada or Europe to more interested in baseball than hockey.
oleosmirf
11/19/2010-5:46pm at 5:46 pm (UTC -4)
and former Ranger, Nigel Dawes.
wannybackstra
11/19/2010-6:13pm at 6:13 pm (UTC -4)
Half Jamaican, in fact.
I think he’s back in the AHL. And I’m pretty sure the Thrashers traded last year for Akim Aliu, who has a Nigerian parent (like the Isles’ Kyle Okposo). He must be at the AHL or ECHL or something.
metsfan4decades
11/19/2010-6:11pm at 6:11 pm (UTC -4)
On completely different note….where’s our Dirty been?
Has he become a Daddy yet? If I’m not mistaken, Ava Sophia was due to make her entrance on 16 Nov…..
Prismo
11/19/2010-6:17pm at 6:17 pm (UTC -4)
He has become one, just yesterday!
metsfan4decades
11/19/2010-6:18pm at 6:18 pm (UTC -4)
Really? Hope Mama and daughter are doing fine.
If you’re reading this, Congratulations, Daddy!
wannybackstra
11/19/2010-6:24pm at 6:24 pm (UTC -4)
Congrats, Dirty. Best wishes and get used to life without sleep!
njstuckintx
11/19/2010-10:11pm at 10:11 pm (UTC -4)
ain’t that the truth! & yes, all the best!
Mr North Jersey
11/19/2010-11:03pm at 11:03 pm (UTC -4)
NICE!!! Way To Go Mrs. DirtySanchez!
God Bless and Congrats Now if you don’t mind can Dirty come out to play?
Just in time for the holidays too. Oh 2010 will be a very special year indeed for them.
stickguy
11/19/2010-11:12pm at 11:12 pm (UTC -4)
damned right. an extra tax deduction!
kistics
11/19/2010-11:42pm at 11:42 pm (UTC -4)
Congrats Dirty!! Welcome to the parenthood. Oh the joy!
Seriously, having children will change your world upside down inside out. Mostly in a good way.
Bryan
11/19/2010-10:54pm at 10:54 pm (UTC -4)
Akeel definitely has a long way to go, it’ll be a few years until he reaches the upper levels of the farm system, but it’d be great to see him continue the success he had last year.
TRS86
11/19/2010-10:59pm at 10:59 pm (UTC -4)
Nice to hear about a guy I have never heard about.
Mr North Jersey
11/19/2010-11:00pm at 11:00 pm (UTC -4)
All these new anonymous faces. Welcome Bryan.
In case your not aware and would down the road wish to add a avatar.
You can go to Gravatar.com create an acct and just be sure the email you use is the same one you use to sign in here to wordpress and you will cease to be avatar-less.
njstuckintx
11/20/2010-7:43am at 7:43 am (UTC -4)
We’re looking your way, Rusty…
Bryan
11/20/2010-10:01pm at 10:01 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks.
Mr North Jersey
11/20/2010-11:04pm at 11:04 pm (UTC -4)
Your welcome.
GravediggerHebner
11/19/2010-11:54pm at 11:54 pm (UTC -4)
May I just say how pleased I am about multiple fellow authors noting how they are so excited to hear about a player “they’ve never heard about.”
http://realdirtymets.com/2010/06/08/new-york-mets-2010-mlb-first-year-player-draft-continues/
stickguy
11/20/2010-12:47am at 12:47 am (UTC -4)
you people need to get out more. How could you just be hearing about this guy now?
Good thing you have an in house MiL team now. Save you the trouble from going over to Toby’s site!