Francisco Morales

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #12 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Morales entered the 2021 season as the Phillies No. 4 prospect but struggled mightily in his first stint in the upper minors, posting a 6.94 ERA in 22 appearances (20 starts) at Double-A Reading. He moved to the bullpen full-time in 2022 and dominated Reading over the first month before receiving his first promotion to the big leagues. After making two appearances in the big leagues, Morales spent the rest of the season mostly split between Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he showcased swing-and-miss stuff but lacked consistency.
  
  Scouting Report: Morales has long struggled to throw consistent strikes, as was the case once again in 2022. The 6-foot-5 righthander had a tendency to get behind in the count, which made it more difficult for him to use his wipeout offering, a hard mid-80s slider that induced whiffs over 57% of the time in 2022. Morales pairs the plus offering with a fastball that averaged 94.9 mph and topped out at 98.7 mph in 2022. Morales struggles to command the pitch well, often throwing it over the middle of the plate. He ditched his below-average changeup after moving to the bullpen, relying entirely on his fastball and slider. His pitches play up thanks to the deception generated from his crossfire delivery, but he needs to establish a consistent release point to throw more strikes moving forward.
  
  The Future: Morales will likely start the 2023 season back at Lehigh Valley, but could quickly join the Phillies bullpen as a high-leverage weapon to complement Seranthony Dominguez.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 60. Control: 40.
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #28 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Morales struggled mightily in his upper minors debut after spending the 2020 shutdown in Orlando working on his conditioning and the development of his changeup. Morales posted a 6.94 ERA and walked 6.5 batters per nine innings at Double-A Reading before closing out the year with two scoreless starts at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
  
  Scouting Report: Morales has long stood out for two impressive weapons in his mid-90s fastball and sharp, high-80s slider, but he had trouble throwing the pitches for strikes this season due to a lack of repeatability with his high-effort delivery. Morales will need to work on spotting his fastball, as he threw it over the middle of the plate far too often this season and it often plays below its velocity due to a lack of movement and command. His changeup lacks deception, making it a below-average offering.
  
  The Future: The 2022 season is a make-or-break year for Morales. If he can improve his fastball command and changeup development he can remain a starter. If not, his plus slider gives him a future in a bullpen role.
  
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #4 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 70. Slider: 70. Changeup: 40. Control: 50
  TRACK RECORD: Morales was one of the top pitchers in the 2016 international class and signed with the Phillies for $720,000. He experienced a breakthrough in 2019 at low Class A Lakewood with a 3.82 ERA and just over 12 strikeouts per nine innings. Morales spent the 2020 season in Orlando working on his changeup and his strength and conditioning. He was listed at 260 pounds at instructional league, up from 185 when he signed.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Morales has a fast, loose arm and generates two power pitches in a 93-97 mph fastball and sharp, 85-89 mph slider that routinely misses bats. Both are plus-plus pitches and play up with deception from his slight crossfire delivery. The development of Morales’ changeup will dictate whether he ends up in a rotation or bullpen. His changeup has rarely fooled hitters, and he needs to add deception or movement to the pitch. Morales needs to keep his release point consistent and establish more extension out front, but he competes hard, has a strong presence and shows potentially average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Morales has a chance to be a mid-rotation starter if he can get his changeup to average. If he doesn’t, he has a solid fallback option as a high-leverage reliever.
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #4 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The Phillies had the largest bonus allotment during the 2016- 17 international signing period. They spent heavily in Venezuela and made Morales their top target. He had the best fastball in that year's international signing class, and it's only gotten better. He handled a piggy-back role well with low Class A Lakewood and got stronger as the season wore on.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Morales has a simple delivery, which utilizes a modest hip turn to load to his balance point on the rubber before exploding to the plate. There's some effort to it and he has a moderate head whack. Refining the consistency of his release point was a point of emphasis in 2019. When he repeated his delivery and stayed on top of his release point he dominated hitters with his 93-97 mph fastball and plus 85-89 mph slider. When he's not consistent with his release point, his command suffers, his slider gets slurvier and his fastball loses some of its life. Morales' changeup remains more of an idea than a usable pitch—it's hard (86-88 mph) without much action or deception. Morales throws enough strikes but his command needs to improve.
  
  THE FUTURE: Morales has some of the best pure stuff in the Phillies' organization, but he has a long way to go with his changeup and his consistency if he's going to remain a starter. Most likely he ends up as a two-pitch reliever, but there's no reason to not give him plenty of time to try to stay a starter. He's ready for high Class A Clearwater.
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #9 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The Phillies signed Morales out of Venezuela for $720,000 when he was one of the top international pitching prospects in the 2016 class. After a promising pro debut in 2017 in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, Morales went to a college-heavy short-season New York-Penn League as an 18-year-old and struggled, though the raw stuff he showed still impressed.
  
  Scouting Report: Morales showed exciting flashes in 2018, including a pair of double-digit strikeout games and an overall strikeout rate of 10.9 per nine innings, though his lack of command got him into trouble against older hitters. He generates downhill plane on his plus fastball, which ranges from 92-96 mph and might have a little more room for growth. He gets good extension out front, helping his fastball play up. His plus slider is a finishing pitch that helped him pile up strikeouts. Morales has shown feel for a changeup when he uses it, though that pitch remains a work in progress. His struggles in 2018 mostly stemmed from his command escaping him, leading to too many walks and unfavorable counts. Morales is a young, long-limbed pitcher who still is learning to sync everything and repeat his mechanics and release point consistently so he can throw more frequent strikes.
  
  The Future: With better command, Morales has the potential to develop into a mid-rotation starter, though that projection comes with significant risk. He will make his full season debut at low Class A Lakewood in 2019.
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #16 prospect in 2018
  Morales was one of the top international amateur pitchers in 2016, when he signed with the Phillies for $720,000. The Phillies pushed him straight to the U.S. for his pro debut and he pitched well in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2017. Morales has a huge frame with broad shoulders and long, lanky limbs, attacking hitters with downhill angle and good extension on a fastball that parks at 90-94 mph and touches 96. He offers physical projection, too, so he could continue to add velocity. His slider flashes as a plus pitch with late, sharp break. He has shown feel for a changeup that could become a reliable pitch once he throws it more frequently, so developing the changeup was a focal point for him during instructional league. Morales shows the ability to mix his pitches and set up hitters, though he will need to improve his fastball command. Morales is ahead of where fellow big-bodied Phillies righthander Franklyn Kilome was at the same stage and has the stuff to develop into a mid-rotation starter, with a chance for more.
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #28 prospect in 2017
  One of the top pitchers on the 2016 international market, Morales signed with the Phillies for $750,000 as a 16-year-old out Venezuela. Morales, now 17, has an impressive combination of size and present stuff. He already has a plus fastball, sitting at 90-94 mph and reaching 96. Morales has a tendency to get underneath the ball from his three-quarters arm slot, but when he stays on top he generates good downhill angle. Scouts who followed Morales before he signed were split on his future outlook because of his shaky slider and control. Early on while Morales was working out for clubs, he had trouble keeping his delivery under control, which hurt his ability to throw strikes. He has done a better job since signing of keeping his delivery in sync and his slider has improved, showing good shape, spin and late action. Morales hasn't needed to throw a changeup much yet, but he has shown early signs of having feel for that pitch. Morales should make his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2017

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Florida Complex League #11 prospect in 2017
  Morales was Baseball America's top-ranked international pitcher in the 2016 class when he signed with the Phillies for $720,000. He pitched well in his pro debut as one of the youngest pitchers in the GCL. Morales operates off a fastball that sits at 90-94 mph and reaches 96. With his tall, wide-shouldered frame, he has the physical projection to add more weight and throw harder in the future. Long and lanky, he generates good extension and downhill angle on his fastball. He has a sharp slider that flashes plus and has shown feel for a changeup that isn't as advanced as his slider but could develop into a weapon once he throws it more. While Morales needs to improve his fastball command, he's not just a thrower looking to light up the radar gun. He shows feel for mixing his stuff and trying to set up hitters.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Morales entered the 2021 season as the Phillies No. 4 prospect but struggled mightily in his first stint in the upper minors, posting a 6.94 ERA in 22 appearances (20 starts) at Double-A Reading. He moved to the bullpen full-time in 2022 and dominated Reading over the first month before receiving his first promotion to the big leagues. After making two appearances in the big leagues, Morales spent the rest of the season mostly split between Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he showcased swing-and-miss stuff but lacked consistency.
  
  Scouting Report: Morales has long struggled to throw consistent strikes, as was the case once again in 2022. The 6-foot-5 righthander had a tendency to get behind in the count, which made it more difficult for him to use his wipeout offering, a hard mid-80s slider that induced whiffs over 57% of the time in 2022. Morales pairs the plus offering with a fastball that averaged 94.9 mph and topped out at 98.7 mph in 2022. Morales struggles to command the pitch well, often throwing it over the middle of the plate. He ditched his below-average changeup after moving to the bullpen, relying entirely on his fastball and slider. His pitches play up thanks to the deception generated from his crossfire delivery, but he needs to establish a consistent release point to throw more strikes moving forward.
  
  The Future: Morales will likely start the 2023 season back at Lehigh Valley, but could quickly join the Phillies bullpen as a high-leverage weapon to complement Seranthony Dominguez.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 60. Control: 40.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Morales entered the 2021 season as the Phillies No. 4 prospect but struggled mightily in his first stint in the upper minors, posting a 6.94 ERA in 22 appearances (20 starts) at Double-A Reading. He moved to the bullpen full-time in 2022 and dominated Reading over the first month before receiving his first promotion to the big leagues. After making two appearances in the big leagues, Morales spent the rest of the season mostly split between Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he showcased swing-and-miss stuff but lacked consistency.
  
  Scouting Report: Morales has long struggled to throw consistent strikes, as was the case once again in 2022. The 6-foot-5 righthander had a tendency to get behind in the count, which made it more difficult for him to use his wipeout offering, a hard mid-80s slider that induced whiffs over 57% of the time in 2022. Morales pairs the plus offering with a fastball that averaged 94.9 mph and topped out at 98.7 mph in 2022. Morales struggles to command the pitch well, often throwing it over the middle of the plate. He ditched his below-average changeup after moving to the bullpen, relying entirely on his fastball and slider. His pitches play up thanks to the deception generated from his crossfire delivery, but he needs to establish a consistent release point to throw more strikes moving forward.
  
  The Future: Morales will likely start the 2023 season back at Lehigh Valley, but could quickly join the Phillies bullpen as a high-leverage weapon to complement Seranthony Dominguez.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 60. Control: 40.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  May Update: In his first season in a relief-only role Morales has excelled, striking out 28 batters and allowing one run in 16.1 innings at Double-A Reading to receive a promotion to the big leagues in early May. With a powerful fastball-slider combination, Morales has the arsenal to help the Phillies bullpen immediately.
  
  Track Record: Morales struggled mightily in his upper minors debut after spending the 2020 shutdown in Orlando working on his conditioning and the development of his changeup. Morales posted a 6.94 ERA and walked 6.5 batters per nine innings at Double-A Reading before closing out the year with two scoreless starts at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
  
  Scouting Report: Morales has long stood out for two impressive weapons in his mid-90s fastball and sharp, high-80s slider, but he had trouble throwing the pitches for strikes this season due to a lack of repeatability with his high-effort delivery. Morales will need to work on spotting his fastball, as he threw it over the middle of the plate far too often this season and it often plays below its velocity due to a lack of movement and command. His changeup lacks deception, making it a below-average offering.
  
  The Future: The 2022 season is a make-or-break year for Morales. If he can improve his fastball command and changeup development he can remain a starter. If not, his plus slider gives him a future in a bullpen role.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 70. Changeup: 40. Control: 40.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Morales struggled mightily in his upper minors debut after spending the 2020 shutdown in Orlando working on his conditioning and the development of his changeup. Morales posted a 6.94 ERA and walked 6.5 batters per nine innings at Double-A Reading before closing out the year with two scoreless starts at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
  
  Scouting Report: Morales has long stood out for two impressive weapons in his mid-90s fastball and sharp, high-80s slider, but he had trouble throwing the pitches for strikes this season due to a lack of repeatability with his high-effort delivery. Morales will need to work on spotting his fastball, as he threw it over the middle of the plate far too often this season and it often plays below its velocity due to a lack of movement and command. His changeup lacks deception, making it a below-average offering.
  
  The Future: The 2022 season is a make-or-break year for Morales. If he can improve his fastball command and changeup development he can remain a starter. If not, his plus slider gives him a future in a bullpen role.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 70. Slider: 70. Changeup: 40. Control: 50
  TRACK RECORD: Morales was one of the top pitchers in the 2016 international class and signed with the Phillies for $720,000. He experienced a breakthrough in 2019 at low Class A Lakewood with a 3.82 ERA and just over 12 strikeouts per nine innings. Morales spent the 2020 season in Orlando working on his changeup and his strength and conditioning. He was listed at 260 pounds at instructional league, up from 185 when he signed.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Morales has a fast, loose arm and generates two power pitches in a 93-97 mph fastball and sharp, 85-89 mph slider that routinely misses bats. Both are plus-plus pitches and play up with deception from his slight crossfire delivery. The development of Morales' changeup will dictate whether he ends up in a rotation or bullpen. His changeup has rarely fooled hitters, and he needs to add deception or movement to the pitch. Morales needs to keep his release point consistent and establish more extension out front, but he competes hard, has a strong presence and shows potentially average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Morales has a chance to be a mid-rotation starter if he can get his changeup to average. If he doesn't, he has a solid fallback option as a high-leverage reliever.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 70. Slider: 70. Changeup: 40. Control: 50
  TRACK RECORD: Morales was one of the top pitchers in the 2016 international class and signed with the Phillies for $720,000. He experienced a breakthrough in 2019 at low Class A Lakewood with a 3.82 ERA and just over 12 strikeouts per nine innings. Morales spent the 2020 season in Orlando working on his changeup and his strength and conditioning. He was listed at 260 pounds at instructional league, up from 185 when he signed.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Morales has a fast, loose arm and generates two power pitches in a 93-97 mph fastball and sharp, 85-89 mph slider that routinely misses bats. Both are plus-plus pitches and play up with deception from his slight crossfire delivery. The development of Morales’ changeup will dictate whether he ends up in a rotation or bullpen. His changeup has rarely fooled hitters, and he needs to add deception or movement to the pitch. Morales needs to keep his release point consistent and establish more extension out front, but he competes hard, has a strong presence and shows potentially average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Morales has a chance to be a mid-rotation starter if he can get his changeup to average. If he doesn’t, he has a solid fallback option as a high-leverage reliever.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 70. Slider: 70. Changeup: 40. Control: 50
  TRACK RECORD: Morales was one of the top pitchers in the 2016 international class and signed with the Phillies for $720,000. He experienced a breakthrough in 2019 at low Class A Lakewood with a 3.82 ERA and just over 12 strikeouts per nine innings. Morales spent the 2020 season in Orlando working on his changeup and his strength and conditioning. He was listed at 260 pounds at instructional league, up from 185 when he signed.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Morales has a fast, loose arm and generates two power pitches in a 93-97 mph fastball and sharp, 85-89 mph slider that routinely misses bats. Both are plus-plus pitches and play up with deception from his slight crossfire delivery. The development of Morales’ changeup will dictate whether he ends up in a rotation or bullpen. His changeup has rarely fooled hitters, and he needs to add deception or movement to the pitch. Morales needs to keep his release point consistent and establish more extension out front, but he competes hard, has a strong presence and shows potentially average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Morales has a chance to be a mid-rotation starter if he can get his changeup to average. If he doesn’t, he has a solid fallback option as a high-leverage reliever.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Phillies had the largest bonus allotment during the 2016- 17 international signing period. They spent heavily in Venezuela and made Morales their top target. He had the best fastball in that year’s international signing class, and it’s only gotten better. He handled a piggy-back role well with low Class A Lakewood and got stronger as the season wore on.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Morales has a simple delivery, which utilizes a modest hip turn to load to his balance point on the rubber before exploding to the plate. There’s some effort to it and he has a moderate head whack. Refining the consistency of his release point was a point of emphasis in 2019. When he repeated his delivery and stayed on top of his release point he dominated hitters with his 93-97 mph fastball and plus 85-89 mph slider. When he’s not consistent with his release point, his command suffers, his slider gets slurvier and his fastball loses some of its life. Morales’ changeup remains more of an idea than a usable pitch—it’s hard (86-88 mph) without much action or deception. Morales throws enough strikes but his command needs to improve.
  
  THE FUTURE: Morales has some of the best pure stuff in the Phillies’ organization, but he has a long way to go with his changeup and his consistency if he’s going to remain a starter. Most likely he ends up as a two-pitch reliever, but there’s no reason to not give him plenty of time to try to stay a starter. He’s ready for high Class A Clearwater.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Phillies had the largest bonus allotment during the 2016- 17 international signing period. They spent heavily in Venezuela and made Morales their top target. He had the best fastball in that year's international signing class, and it's only gotten better. He handled a piggy-back role well with low Class A Lakewood and got stronger as the season wore on.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Morales has a simple delivery, which utilizes a modest hip turn to load to his balance point on the rubber before exploding to the plate. There's some effort to it and he has a moderate head whack. Refining the consistency of his release point was a point of emphasis in 2019. When he repeated his delivery and stayed on top of his release point he dominated hitters with his 93-97 mph fastball and plus 85-89 mph slider. When he's not consistent with his release point, his command suffers, his slider gets slurvier and his fastball loses some of its life. Morales' changeup remains more of an idea than a usable pitch—it's hard (86-88 mph) without much action or deception. Morales throws enough strikes but his command needs to improve.
  
  THE FUTURE: Morales has some of the best pure stuff in the Phillies' organization, but he has a long way to go with his changeup and his consistency if he's going to remain a starter. Most likely he ends up as a two-pitch reliever, but there's no reason to not give him plenty of time to try to stay a starter. He's ready for high Class A Clearwater.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  The Latin America pitching pipeline keeps flowing for the Phillies, with Morales the team’s most exciting international in short-season ball. He’s throwing 92-96 mph with downhill angle from his 6-foot-5 frame, then finishing hitters with a plus slider. Morales’ command escapes him at times, but he could develop into a mid-rotation starter with a chance for more.