Logan Morrison Stats & Scouting Report

AB	3331
AVG	.238
OBP	.323
SLG	.425
HR	140

Full name Justis Logan Morrison
Born 08/25/1987 in Kansas City, MO
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 245 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School MCC-Maple Woods
Debut 07/27/2010
Drafted in the 22nd round (666th overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2005 (signed for $225,000).

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Morrison turned down $95,000 out of high school so he could attend Maple Woods (Mo.) CC, Albert Pujols' alma mater. Morrison grew two inches and added 20 pounds of muscle, prompting the Marlins to sign him for $225,000 the following spring. After winning MVP honors in the high Class A Florida State League in 2008, he missed most of the first two months last season with a broken bone at the base of his right thumb. Morrison has the best plate discipline in the organization. He has a balanced, flat swing that enables him to keep his bat in the zone a long time. He has plus power and can put on a batting-practice show that nearly rivals those of Jacksonville teammate Mike Stanton, but Morrison reins it in during games and looks gap to gap. He projects as a classic No. 3 hitter, and his makeup and leadership skills are outstanding. His hands and arm are assets at first base. Morrison hit just .233 with one homer in 86 at-bats against lefties in 2009. While he has worked hard on his defense, he has limited range and speed. He continues to dabble in left field as the Marlins try to find ways to get both him and Gaby Sanchez into their lineup. Barring a huge spring, Morrison likely will head back to Double-A to start 2010, but he could get the call at any time.
Morrison turned down $95,000 as a 22nd-round pick out of high school so he could attend Maple Woods (Mo.) CC, the same school that produced Albert Pujols. While there, he grew two inches and added 20 pounds of muscle, prompting the Marlins to sign him for $225,000 as a draft-and-follow. He exploded last season to claim MVP honors in the high Class A Florida State League, which he led in batting (.332), hits (162), doubles (38) and on-base percentage (.402). Morrison has a flat swing that stays in the zone for an exceptionally long time. He has plus power and blasted several memorable shots last season, but he does a nice job of ignoring that temptation and working the gaps. His plate discipline keeps improving and he refrains from chasing pitches out of the zone. He projects as a .300 hitter with 30-homer potential. He keeps getting better defensively, too, flashing a strong arm and a willingness to nail lead runners. Morrison's range at first base is still fairly limited. He's a below-average runner, though not bad once he gets going. Offensively, however, there's not much not to like. After batting .404/.444/.667 in the Arizona Fall League, Morrison will head to Florida's new Double-A Jacksonville affiliate. He could get to the majors at some point in 2009 and battle Gaby Sanchez for a starting job. The Marlins also could move Morrison to left field after he showed decent aptitude there in the AFL.
In his first full pro season, Morrison opened eyes throughout the organization. A draft-and-follow, he signed out of Maple Woods (Mo.) CC--Albert Pujols' alma mater--just before the 2006 draft. The Marlins were pleasantly surprised by Morrison's tremendous raw power along with his ability to make consistent hard contact. He has a reliable inside-out stroke and the ability to use the whole field, and some believe he could become a .300 hitter with 30-homer power. He did have trouble against lefthanders, hitting .195 (albeit with six homers) in 113 at-bats in 2007, but Florida thinks he'll make adjustments with experience. Defensively, he has made great strides at first base in very little time, though his speed and range are still somewhat limited. He worked with former infield coordinator Ed Romero to improve his positioning, footwork and hands. His throwing arm is a plus weapon and he can nab lead runners with ease. Morrison has a solid frame, a tremendous work ethic and a rapidly earned reputation as a gamer. He figures to open 2008 in high Class A and could put himself on the fast track with another year of improvement like the one he just enjoyed.

Minor League Top Prospects

Morrison has a mature, patient approach and advanced pitch recognition. He's not afraid to go deep in counts and hit with two strikes. His hands work well and he hits with an up-the-middle mentality. Though he hasn't shown a lot of pop against advanced competition, he has the size and strength to hit for at least average power once he learns to turn on more pitches. A first baseman by trade, Morrison had good reactions and a strong arm for the position, assets that translated well to the outfield. He has limited speed and range, and his inexperience was evident at times, but he handles himself well enough in left field.
Morrison suffered a small fracture in his right wrist in the second game of the season, causing him to miss the first two months. Upon returning to the lineup, he showed his trademark outstanding approach and was one of the league's most productive hitters. He batted .360 with eight walks in seven playoff games, helping Jacksonville win the league title Morrison has an excellent feel for the strike zone. He does a good job of staying in the middle of the field with a flat swing that allows him to stay square to the ball. He can spray the ball to all fields with a flat swing, driving the ball away and showing the ability to handle the inside pitch. His balance and advanced pitch recognition allow him to stay back on the ball and rarely get caught out front. Though Morrison's above-average power comes out in batting practice, his swing and approach are geared more toward working the gaps than trying to lift it over the fence. He should develop more home run power as he matures. "He's going to hit with some power," said an American League scout. "Not Stanton power, but he doesn't get fooled much out there." He's an average defensive first baseman with good hands and a strong arm, and could be a tick above-average in the future. While he's a below-average runner, he has solid actions around the bag and athleticism for his size.
A year ago, Morrison showed his power potential by hitting 24 homers while playing his home games at the bandbox that is low Class A Greensboro's NewBridge Bank Park. His 13 homers and 38 doubles this year may have been more impressive, as Jupiter's Roger Dean Stadium is where fly balls go to die. The league MVP, he led the FSL in batting (.332), hits (162), doubles and on-base percentage (.402). Morrison has a flat swing that stays in the zone for a long time. He has the ability to pull the ball out of the park, as he showed with a couple of tape-measure shots, but he spends most of his time hitting line drives from gap to gap. He also shows a refined batting eye, working counts and rarely chasing pitches. Morrison has shown steady improvement defensively and should end up being an average first baseman. He runs adequately, with decent speed once he gets under way.