2024 Draft Prospect PJ Morlando’s Wild Intentional Walk Streak

Opposing high schools in South Carolina have pitched 2024 draft prospect PJ Morlando quite carefully this year. This week, it jumped up another level. 

Morlando, who plays for Summerville HS in South Carolina, has been intentionally walked eight consecutive times in a pair of games this week against Fort Dorchester HS. You can see video of the seventh intentional walk from Wednesday’s game below. Morlando appears to be getting a kick out of it — then promptly steals second base. He was again intentionally walked in his following at-bat. Summerville went on to win the game 8-1. Summerville also won 8-0 in a Monday matchup.

Just look at the faces, at the laughs.

Summerville's PJ Morlando is a near sure shot MLB 1st rounder. A USC commit as well.

I was at his game tonight. Check out his reaction when Fort Dorchester intentionally walks him for the 7th straight time this week.

Then he steals 2nd pic.twitter.com/UUzjxtKh8z

— Scott Eisberg (@SEisbergWCIV) April 25, 2024

Good pitches are hard to come by right now for Morlando. The South Carolina commit also walked three times in a 10-5 win over Ashley Ridge HS last Friday. According to the Post and Courier, Morlando walked 19 times through his first 20 games while hitting .460 with a pair of homers. 

The lefthanded slugger entered the year as one of the top prep hitters in the country and was a Baseball America Preseason First-Team All-American. The first baseman/outfielder, who will be 19 years old on draft day, presently ranks No. 37 in our latest update. Here’s an except from his draft report. 

“Morlando is one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the 2024 class thanks to an excellent combination of contact skills, plate discipline and power. A 6-foot-3, 200-pound lefthanded hitter, Morlando has elite bat speed, which along with his strength and leverage in his swing generates some of the most raw power in the prep class. It’s an easy plus power projection that should allow him a chance to be a 30-plus home run threat in his peak seasons.The way Morlando is able to generate that power is especially impressive and allows it to translate in games.”

Summerville is closing in on the postseason. So at some some point, the senior should get a chance to do some damage. But there’s also a chance the intentional walk streak could continue first. Summerville faces Fort Dorchester again on Friday night.