Justin Morneau

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #2 prospect in 2004
  Morneau has been hobbled by various injuries in each of his five seasons since originally signing as a catcher in 1999. The most serious was an intestinal virus that caused him to drop 20 pounds before the 2002 season, but last year's broken toe couldn't stop him from hitting a team-high .429 in spring training. He batted .400 with five homers in six games to lead Canada to second place at the Olympic qualifying tournament in November, earning a spot in the 2004 Athens Games. Morneau has legitimate power with a classic finish and natural loft to his swing. He generates easy pop and has the plus bat speed to drive good fastballs. Morneau struggled with offspeed stuff in the big leagues and will have to adjust. Strong defense has been a signature of the Twins over the last two seasons, but Morneau will be just adequate at first base despite working hard to improve. Morneau is likely to start the year at Triple-A Rochester, but should get at least 200-250 at-bats for the Twins between first base and DH. He should wrest the first-base job from Doug Mientkiewicz and bat cleanup for Minnesota in 2005.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #2 prospect in 2003
  Drafted as a catcher out of the North Delta Blue Jays program in the B.C. Premier League, Morneau has settled in at first base after experimenting in the outfield during instructional league in 2001. Injuries have hampered him throughout his career. Last spring, he lost 25 pounds due to an intestinal infection and missed the first week of the season at Double-A New Britain. Morneau's lefthanded stroke is one of the sweetest in the minors. He produces outstanding power with a classic finish. He shows the ability to cover the plate and center the ball. His plus-plus bat speed propels the ball off his bat, and he has the best game power of any prospect in the system. As a first baseman, Morneau will be adequate but won't be an asset like incumbent Doug Mienkiewicz, a Gold Glover. Morneau worked on his hands and footwork in the Arizona Fall League. Morneau should produce well-above-average power and average. Mienkiewicz' job won't be in jeopardy until 2004, though Morneau could force his way into the Twins lineup as a DH by the all-star break in 2003.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #2 prospect in 2002
  Morneau put on a power display for Twins brass in a batting-practice session at the Metrodome shortly after he was drafted. Nagging injuries held him back in each of his first two pro seasons, but after he had surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow, he earned two promotions in 2001. Morneau's offensive ceiling rivals Joe Mauer's. His classic lefthanded stroke draws comparisons to John Olerud, but Morneau projects to hit for more power than Olerud. Morneau shows the aptitude to make adjustments at the plate and is starting to figure out which pitches he can turn on. Drafted as a catcher, he will be limited to first base by his growing body. He's not mobile and will be an average defender at best. He saw time in right field during instructional league. One scout guaranteed Morneau will hit 35-40 home runs in the big leagues. He's on the fast track, reaching Double-A New Britain last year two months after turning 20. He'll return there to start 2002.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #5 prospect in 2001
  After wrenching his knee while sliding, Morneau didn't even play in extended spring training in 2000 until just before the Gulf Coast League season started in June. A gamer, he came back faster than expected and set GCL records for average and RBIs. The Twins believe Morneau could be their No. 3 hitter of the future. Shortly after he was drafted in 1999, he drilled several balls into the Metrodome's upper deck. He's already mature offensively and still has room to grow. Prior to 2000, Morneau's throwing mechanics were subpar. Though he showed improvement behind the plate and caught during the Rookie-level Appalachian League playoffs, he is best suited for first base--where he won't be blocked in the system. He has below-average speed but isn't considered a base clogger. Morneau left instructional league with a sore elbow, which could tie him to first base for awhile. He and Rob Bowen could form an impressive tandem at Class A Quad City in 2001. Morneau's bat is his ticket to the majors, and catching would be a bonus.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #2 prospect in 2004
  With natural loft and a Fred McGriffesque finish and natural loft, Morneau generates easy power from the left side. He struggled against offspeed stuff in his major league debut in 2003, but he made the necessary adjustments this year. He also improved defensively, though he'll never make anyone forget his predecessor in Minnesota, Gold Glover Doug Mientkiewicz. Morneau's footwork is his biggest drawback at first base. "He's very easy to all fields with good knowledge and discipline of the zone," Buffalo manager Marty Brown said. "People say some bad things about his defense, but he moved pretty good over there. A lot better than he did last year."
• 
  Ranked International League #2 prospect in 2003
  Morneau clubbed 19 homers between Double-A New Britain and Rochester and led the minors in that category when the Twins called him up in June. He lost his stroke because of sporadic playing time in Minnesota and hit .236-3-13 in 127 at-bats upon his return to Rochester. Despite the slump, managers still praised Morneau's swing and ability to make adjustments, noting that he got frustrated by being pitched backwards early on and then figured things out. He drew some comparisons to Fred McGriff, offering a solid average to go along with 35-40 home run potential. "He's an outstanding hitter with power to all fields," Cooper said. "He's got good plate discipline and plus-plus power. He stood head and shoulders over everyone else in the league." Drafted as a catcher, Morneau continues to improve at first base. His hands and footwork still cause concern, but he's athletic enough to become an average defender.
• 
  Ranked Eastern League #4 prospect in 2002
  An intestinal infection during spring training kept Morneau from starting fast in the EL. He lost 17 pounds and missed the first nine days of the season. Once healthy, he wasted little time impressing people--just as he did last year in the low Class A Midwest League, where he ranked behind only Adrian Gonzalez on BA's Top 20 list. "He has the best bat I've seen in a long time," said an AL scout with more than 20 years of experience in covering the league. "He has the chance to develop into a guy who hits 40 or more homers. He'll hit for average, too. Despite his lack of speed, he's playable at first base." Morneau has a terrific stroke, good size and leverage. He makes good contact for a slugger and has a sound understanding of the strike zone. He doesn't have the most live body, but he's not a terrible athlete either.
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #6 prospect in 2001
  Morneau put his catcher's gear aside and tore up the low Class A Midwest League in the first half. He left a 1.017 on-base plus slugging percentage behind when he was promoted to Fort Myers shortly after his 20th birthday. He didn't punish pitchers as much in the FSL, yet he still managed to impress skippers with his approach. "He's a pure hitter who will hit for average and power," Kennedy said. "If you make a mistake, he'll make you pay." Morneau's 6-foot-4 frame contains prodigious power. Bothered by knee and elbow injuries as a catcher, he made improvement at first base in his first season out from behind the plate. His biggest weakness is his lack of speed. "He reminds me of John Olerud," Tampa manager Brian Butterfield said. "He has big-time hitting ability."
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #2 prospect in 2001
  As good as Gonzalez was, several managers and scouts thought Morneau was better. The Twins wisely gave up on the idea that he could catch and just let him concentrate on offense. He set Rookie-level Gulf Coast League records with a .402 average and 58 RBIs in 52 games last year, and kept mashing in the MWL and after a promotion to the high Class A Florida State League. "He has a great lefthanded bat and he's going to be a pretty good major league hitter," Dayton manager Donnie Scott said. "He and Gonzalez are both great hitters, but he's got more raw power." Like Gonzalez, Morneau has a picturesque lefthanded swing and an advanced approach. He understands the strike zone and rarely chases pitches. He's improving as a first baseman.
• 
  Ranked Florida Complex League #4 prospect in 2000
  Morneau set league records with a .402 average and 58 RBIs. The Dodgers' Angel Dotel, the only previous GCL player to crack .400, hit an even .400 in 1991. "Morneau's as good a hitter as I've ever seen at this level," said Darryl Kennedy, manager of the league champion Rangers. "He hits to all fields for both average and power." "A very selective hitter, very disciplined," Orioles manager Jesus Alfaro said. "He hits all types of pitchers well and the ball just explodes off his bat. He's also very good at making adjustments from at-bat to at-bat." Morneau was drafted as a catcher in the third round in 1999 by the Twins, but spent most of the season at first base, his likely position in the future. He lacks the quickness and arm strength to remain behind the plate on a regular basis.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #16 prospect in 2004
• Ranked Baseball America's #14 prospect in 2003
• Ranked Baseball America's #21 prospect in 2002

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Morneau set league records with a .402 average and 58 RBIs. The Dodgers' Angel Dotel, the only previous GCL player to crack .400, hit an even .400 in 1991. "Morneau's as good a hitter as I've ever seen at this level," said Darryl Kennedy, manager of the league champion Rangers. "He hits to all fields for both average and power." "A very selective hitter, very disciplined," Orioles manager Jesus Alfaro said. "He hits all types of pitchers well and the ball just explodes off his bat. He's also very good at making adjustments from at-bat to at-bat." Morneau was drafted as a catcher in the third round in 1999 by the Twins, but spent most of the season at first base, his likely position in the future. He lacks the quickness and arm strength to remain behind the plate on a regular basis.