P.J. Morlando Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1
AVG	0
OBP	0
SLG	0
HR	0

Full name Perry Morlando
Born 05/16/2005 in Summerville, SC
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Summerville
Drafted in the 1st round (16th overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2024 (signed for $3,400,000).

View Draft Report

School: Summerville (S.C.) HS Commit/Drafted: South Carolina
Age At Draft: 19.2
BA Grade: 50/Extreme
Tools: Hit: 55. Power: 60. Run: 40. Field: 50. Arm: 50.

Morlando earned a reputation as one of the most dangerous hitters in the 2024 high school class thanks to a strong combination of contact skills, plate discipline and raw power. He is powerfully built with well-developed musculature throughout a 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame and easy plus raw power thanks to well above-average bat speed. Morlando’s hitting setup is unorthodox. He uses an extremely wide stance and no leg kick or stride, but rather a quiet and simple lower-half weight transfer. He has no wasted movement with his hands or head throughout the swing. The fact that he’s able to generate standout game power with that setup is a testament to his strength, bat speed and pure hitting ability. Notably, he didn’t show the sort of offensive performance scouts expected this spring, and teams might want to get him less grounded in the future. Morlando’s contact skills and swing decisions should make him an above-average hitter who will also take his fair share of walks. An outfielder and first baseman, he might be best at first base, where his below-average speed and upright, heel-striking running stride won’t limit him quite as much. Morlando is old for the class and will be 19 on draft day, which, combined with a first base profile, will make him a polarizing prospect. He’s committed to South Carolina but could be drafted on day one if he’s signable.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: Morlando had long been one of the top players in the 2024 high school class. His strong performance on the travel circuit carried over into the summer heading into his senior year, when Morlando won both the home run derby and MVP at the MLB High School All-American game. After his spring season in 2024, his stock dropped across many boards, but Miami remained undeterred, drafting him 16th overall and signing him for a below-slot $3.4 million. His professional debut was cut short by a lumbar stress reaction in his back suffered in August.

Scouting Report: Morlando has always been known for the jaw-dropping power displays in batting practice, but there are questions about how much power he will tap into in games. Morlando has used a super-crouched, wide-base setup, but the Marlins are working with him to get more upright to help tap into more of his power. Morlando rarely expanded the zone in high school, content to take his walks. He also shows the ability to use the whole field and projects for potentially plus contact rates. The Marlins believe Morlando is a better athlete and straight-line runner than scouts give him credit for, having run a 40-yard dash under 4.5 seconds in one of their workouts. The plan for now is to have him play center field, but he will likely have to slide to a corner at some point, with first base as a backup option. His arm is average to a tick above.

The Future: Morlando’s stock could go way up or down in his first full season—likely starting in Low-A Jupiter—against pitchers who will finally challenge him in the zone. He has the upside to develop into a middle-of-the-order bat, with the chance to be an asset in the hit, power and zone control departments. His ultimate defensive home is uncertain, but his bat should profile anywhere.

Scouting Grades Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Fielding: 45 | Arm: 50