Josh Morgan

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #22 prospect in 2018
  Morgan repeated the high Class A level in 2017 at the Rangers' new Down East affiliate in the Carolina League, but he did so while having to learn a new position. Morgan had experimented with catching at instructional league in 2015 and 2016, and in 2017 the Rangers had him rotating between shortstop and catcher, with 36 games behind the plate but most of his time at shortstop. Morgan missed a month in June with a tight hamstring but got extra work catching upper-level pitching after the season in the Arizona Fall League. It's been difficult for Morgan to learn catching while playing it only part time, but the Rangers like the versatility of having him at multiple positions. Morgan has a contact-oriented swing and a good eye for the strike zone, though he wasn't as selective with his approach as he has shown in the past. Morgan doesn't have much power but has enough to pull 8-12 home runs over the fence. Morgan doesn't have the range to stick at shortstop, but his hands, feet and slightly above-average arm would work well at second or third base. He's shown promising signs behind the plate, but he understandably has a ways to go to stick there. Morgan is slated to move up to Double-A Frisco, where he will continue to work on his catching and bounce around the infield.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #6 prospect in 2017
  Morgan's polished feel for hitting and gamer mentality stood out since he signed for $800,000 as a third-round pick in 2014. He finished the 2016 season strong at high Class A High Desert, batting .324/.386/.437 in the second half. After experimenting at catcher at 2015 instructional league, Morgan went behind the plate again at 2016 instructs, with the plan to have him catch and play the infield in 2017. Morgan's game is built around his ability to get on base. He's a disciplined hitter who recognizes breaking balls and doesn't chase much outside the strike zone. With quick hands and a short, simple stroke, Morgan is a high-contact hitter who uses the whole field with a line-drive approach but well below-average power. Morgan's swing has minimal movement but he could grow into more sock if he learns to load and generate more separation when he starts his swing. Primarily a shortstop in 2015, he spent most of his 2016 at third base and played the position well, though he got reps at shortstop and second base, too. He has the instincts, hands and feet to play second or third, with a tick above-average arm. If Morgan is able to catch, that would significantly enhance his value. Just 21, he may yet add catching and still move up to Double-A Frisco thanks to his polished approach.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #7 prospect in 2016
  After signing for $800,000 as a third-round pick in 2014, Morgan led the Rookie-level Arizona League in on-base percentage. Moved up to low Class Hickory in 2015, Morgan continued to show strong on-base skills with a polished hitting approach before a broken right index finger ended his season in early August. Morgan is a smart player with plate discipline. He recognizes breaking balls and doesn't chase many pitches outside the strike zone. When he does swing, it's a simple, compact stroke without much movement. He has quick hands, good bat control and makes contact at a high rate, backspinning the ball and using the middle of the field. Morgan can sneak a ball over the fence to his pull side, but his power is well below-average, with an offensive profile that will always be tilted toward getting on base over power. The Rangers also had Michael De Leon at Hickory, so Morgan split time between shortstop and third base. A slightly above-average runner, Morgan is a steady defender who doesn't have the pure range many teams seek at shortstop, but his hands, feet and instincts help him, along with a solid-average arm. As Morgan gets stronger and learns to drive the ball with more authority, his ability to put the ball and play and draw walks could make him a top-of-the-order hitter. He should make the jump to high Class A High Desert in 2016.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #10 prospect in 2015
  Morgan signed for $800,000 as a third-round pick, then led the Rookielevel Arizona League with a .468 on-base percentage. In a system filled with toolsy free-swingers, Morgan stands out for his plate discipline and barrel awareness. He lays off breaking balls outside the zone and uses his quick hands to unleash a fast, compact stroke to rope line drives to all fields. Morgan can put a ball in the gap, but he lacks power. A slightly above-average runner when he signed, Morgan lost around 10 pounds in pro ball and improved his speed to plus. He's a reliable defensive shortstop, with good hands, footwork and instincts that help his range play up with a solid-average arm. Some scouts in the draft questioned whether Morgan would be better suited for second base, but he played well at shortstop in his pro debut. Morgan should move on to low Class A Hickory in 2015. His potential as a high-OBP hitter in the middle of the diamond is exciting if he can develop power.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #63 prospect in 2014 draft
  Morgan has been on the Southern California prospect landscape for years, and scouts all know him and like him because of his affability and work ethic. He impressed defensively last summer but struggled with the bat. He showed better offensively last October at the World Wood Bat Championships and again at the Southern California Invitational in February, demonstrating quick hands and a compact righthanded stroke. The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder excels at hitting line drives middle-away, but he has also flashed below-average power to the pull side, and some scouts say he has tried too hard to yank home runs at times this spring. He has a chance to be a solid-average hitter in time, because he has an innate feel for his barrel. A slightly above-average runner with a slightly above-average arm, Morgan lacks standout tools at shortstop, but his instincts make his range play up, and his lightning-quick hands are special. He may wind up at second base, but some scouts say he has a shot to stick at shortstop. A club that likes him there could draft the UCLA recruit in the second round.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Arizona Complex League #19 prospect in 2014
  A well-known commodity on the Southern California showcase circuit, Morgan received an $800,000 bonus as a Rangers third-round pick to pass on his commitment to UCLA. He's an instinctual player who managers say plays above his tools and approaches the game the right way. Mogan won the league on-base percentage title at .468 thanks to a mature approach and consistent line-drive swing, as well as good feel for the barrel. He has below-average power and slightly above-average speed, which plays up because of his innate game awareness. Morgan doesn't have standout defensive tools for shortstop, but he's fundamentally sound, reads swings and does the little things to get in position. His arm strength is improving and projects to be at least average. Opposing AZL managers recognized him for how hard he plays the game. "He's a manager's dream," Rangers manager Kenny Holmberg said. "He comes to play and outworks everyone around him."
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  Ranked Northwest League #10 prospect in 2014
  Signed for $800,000, Morgan shared timed with Ti'quan Forbes and Yeyson Yrizarri with the Rangers' Rookie-level Arizona League affiliate before earning a promotion to Spokane for the second half of his pro debut. In both stops, Morgan played more second base, but the Rangers haven't ruled him out at shortstop. Morgan showed more quickness as a pro, shaving time off his times to first base, going from a 4.4-second runner to 4.2 seconds by season's end as his conditioning improved. His arm speed also improved since signing, improving the velocity and accuracy on his throws and giving him a better chance to stay at shortstop. Morgan has a contact approach at the plate to go with a polished approach for such a young hitter. He draws walks and had consistent quality at-bats. His power grades as below-average, but his hands work at the plate, and has the instincts to be a solid basestealer as well.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Morgan's polished feel for hitting and gamer mentality stood out since he signed for $800,000 as a third-round pick in 2014. He finished the 2016 season strong at high Class A High Desert, batting .324/.386/.437 in the second half. After experimenting at catcher at 2015 instructional league, Morgan went behind the plate again at 2016 instructs, with the plan to have him catch and play the infield in 2017. Scouting Report: Morgan's game is built around his ability to get on base. He's a disciplined hitter who recognizes breaking balls and doesn't chase much outside the strike zone. With quick hands and a short, simple stroke, Morgan is a high-contact hitter who uses the whole field with a line-drive approach but well below-average power. Morgan's swing has minimal movement but he could grow into more sock if he learns to load and generate more separation when he starts his swing. Primarily a shortstop in 2015, he spent most of his 2016 at third base and played the position well, though he got reps at shortstop and second base, too. He has the instincts, hands and feet to play second or third, with a tick above-average arm.
  
  The Future: If Morgan is able to catch, that would significantly enhance his value. Just 21, he may yet add catching and still move up to Double-A Frisco thanks to his polished approach.
• December, 2015 Scouting Report
  After signing for $800,000 as a third-round pick in 2014, Morgan led the Rookie-level Arizona League in on-base percentage. Moved up to low Class Hickory in 2015, Morgan continued to show strong on-base skills with a polished hitting approach before a broken right index finger ended his season in early August. Morgan is a smart player with plate discipline. He recognizes breaking balls and doesn't chase many pitches outside the strike zone. When he does swing, it's a simple, compact stroke without much movement. He has quick hands, good bat control and makes contact at a high rate, backspinning the ball and using the middle of the field. Morgan can sneak a ball over the fence to his pull side, but his power is well below-average, with an offensive profile that will always be tilted toward getting on base over power. The Rangers also had Michael De Leon at Hickory, so Morgan split time between shortstop and third base. A slightly above-average runner, Morgan is a steady defender who doesn't have the pure range many teams seek at shortstop, but his hands, feet and instincts help him, along with a solid-average arm. As Morgan gets stronger and learns to drive the ball with more authority, his ability to put the ball and play and draw walks could make him a top-of-the-order hitter. He should make the jump to high Class A High Desert in 2016.