Franklin Morales Stats & Scouting Report

IP	490
ERA	4.555
WHIP	1.441
BB/9	4.096
SO/9	7.071

Full name Franklin Miguel Morales
Born 01/24/1986 in San Juan De Los Morros, Venezuela
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School U.E. Carlos Aponte
Debut 08/18/2007

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

After leading the high Class A California League with a 3.68 ERA and 179 strikeouts in 154 innings in 2006, Morales found success harder to come by at the beginning of the 2007 season. Thirteen starts into the year, he was winless at Double-A Tulsa and had just given up six runs in two-thirds of an inning when he learned that he had been named to the World Team in the Futures Game. There, he hit 97 mph with his fastball and struck out fellow Rockies farmhand Ian Stewart, Twins second baseman Matt Tolbert and Reds outfielder Jay Bruce in an inning of work. He went 3-0 in four starts at Tulsa afterward, then won two of his three starts at Triple-A Colorado Springs before becoming the fourth-youngest player in Rockies history at 21. He tied a franchise record for starters by spinning 20 straight scoreless innings. Morales wasn't as sharp in the postseason, getting tagged for 11 earned runs in 10 innings. The Rockies first spotted him as an outfielder but immediately converted him to the mound after signing him for $40,000. He is the first big league lefthander to come out of Colorado's replenished Latin American program. Morales can reach the upper 90s with his fastball, but he achieves his best command and life when he pitches at 92-93 mph, more than enough velocity for a lefty. He features two curveballs, a slower version that he throws for strikes, and a harder, sweepier pitch that hitters will chase. He made major strides with his changeup in 2007. The Rockies consider Morales a big-game pitcher who gets better with a challenge. He has a short-term memory and is able to shake off struggles, make adjustments and move on in his next start. He shows the athleticism of a position player, and his experience as an outfielder is evident. Morales still has to work on throwing more consistent and better quality strikes. He can make a pitch when he has to, but he can cut down on his walks and refine his command. His hard curveball isn't as reliable as his slower bender. He needs to smooth out his arm action and add deception to his changeup to help him against righthanders, who hit .273 off him in the majors. Morales can get a little too emotional at times on the mound. When he first got to the majors, he got himself into trouble by becoming so obsessed with videos and scouting reports that he lost touch with his own strengths. Morales has the ability to be a top-of-the-rotation starter. He projects as Colorado's No. 4 starter in 2008, but the spot won't be handed to him. Because he's young and has spent only one year above Class A, the Rockies would have no qualms about sending him to Triple-A if he doesn't have a strong spring.
Since posting a 7.62 ERA in his U.S. debut in 2004, Morales has made major strides in each of the last two seasons. He ranked as the top pitching prospect in the high Class A California League last year, when he led the circuit in ERA and strikeouts. A legitimate lefty power pitcher, Morales can blow hitters away with a 94-95 mph fastball or a hard-biting curveball. He does a good job of maintaining his arm speed with his changeup and throwing it for strikes. He's still growing, and his stuff has taken off as he has added three inches in height in the last three years. Morales still hasn't learned how to repeat his mechanics effectively, in part because he's still filling out. As a result, his control and command waver. So does his concentration, which doesn't help. He tends to rush and overthrow when he gets into a jam. His changeup is still a work in progress. Morales has all the ingredients to be a top-of-the-rotation starter. He'll make the move to Double-A in 2007 and figures to reach Coors Field by season's end. He'll stick in the majors as soon as he shows the ability to consistently throw strikes.
The Rockies brought Morales along slowly in his first full season in the United States. Signed out of the Dominican Republic at 16, he worked in relief early in 2005 before moving into the low Class A Asheville rotation. He improved greatly from his 7.62 ERA at Rookie-level Casper in his U.S. debut. Morales has a live arm. His fastball ranges from 92-98 mph and sits at 94-95. Working from a three-quarters arm slot, he shows a good curveball and an average changeup already. He's tough to run on. He demonstrates a flair and confidence beyond his youth on the mound. Like most young pitchers, Morales lacks consistency. He tends to overthrow when he gets in trouble, costing him control. He needs to throw more strikes, especially when he faces more advanced hitters who will wait him out. He has the basics of a good delivery, though he doesn't always maintain it. Morales will open 2006 in high Class A. The Rockies have shown a willingness to be patient with young Latin pitchers, but they think he has a chance to be special and could accelerate his timetable.

Minor League Top Prospects

Morales was sensational in Colorado's run to the NL pennant in 2007, but this season wasn't as kind. He went 1-2, 6.39 in five April starts for the Rockies, earning a demotion, and never made it back to the majors. He had two PCL starts where he got touched for 10 or more runs and led the league with 82 walks, though he did make some progress after the all-star break. Command issues have plagued Morales before, but rarely to the extent they did this year. A scout who saw him said he didn't appear to be injured or laboring, labeling his problems as mental. His fastball was clocked at 87-91 mph early in the season but was back up to 90-93 with good deception in the second half. His curveball has the potential to give him a second plus pitch and his changeup has made progress. The raw stuff is still there, but he has to throw more strikes.
Morales spent all of 2006 in Class A, then jumped from Double-A in the first half of this season to Triple-A and then the big leagues by the end of the year. He piled up 93 strikeouts in 113 minor league innings, but also 58 walks, emphasizing his power stuff as well as the work he still has to do with his command. Morales brings pure power from the left side, with a fastball that sits at 93-94 mph, a hard curveball and an improving changeup. To get the most out of his ability, though, he'll need to improve his focus and preparation for each start, as well as learn how to attack hitters. Most TL observers expected Morales' command to improve as he matures. And if he doesn't develop into a frontline starter, Morales has the stuff to pitch in the back of a bullpen. "He was all over the place in his first start, but he looked much better after that," Warner said. "By the end of his time in the league, he was throwing offspeed pitches behind in the count for strikes."
Morales led the Cal League with a 3.68 ERA and 179 strikeouts in 154 innings, an indication of just how electric his stuff is. He also ranked second to teammate Samuel Deduno with 89 walks, evidence of his biggest weakness--control and command. In particular, Morales needs to work on his command of his biting 12-to-6 curveball, which can be an above-average or better pitch at times but could use tightening at others. Morales has a plus-plus fastball, sitting at 94-96 mph all game with plenty of life. He sometimes gets in trouble by using his curveball too much and forgetting about his mid-90s gas. Morales also has an average changeup that he throws without changing his arm speed from his fastball, making it difficult to pick up. "He is exceptional: really good stuff, overpowering fastball, well above-average curveball in terms of break, and he throws the changeup for strikes near the plate," San Jose manager Lenn Sakata said. "When he's on, you're not going to hit him. He's just a little erratic and throws too many balls at times."
Despite an underwhelming ERA (7.62) and build (6 feet, 170 pounds), Morales turned heads in the PL. He's lean and projectable, and he already pitches at 92 mph and touches 94 with his fastball. His 12-to-6 curveball has the makings of an out pitch and he shows some aptitude for a changeup. He ranked second behind his teammate Deduno by averaging 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings. As an 18-year-old in just his second pro season, Morales was still feeling for his mechanics and command. He has a tendency to try and do too much with his stuff as opposed to relying on his natural arm action.