Morgan Will Wear Any Glove Necessary
SURPRISE, Ariz.–Josh Morgan is becoming a Swiss army knife kind of prospect. He can play three infield positions, doing so with a knack for making highlight-worthy plays, and show off his skills at the plate.
The 2014 third-round pick from Orange (Calif.) Lutheran High impressed the big league coaching staff as a fill-in outfielder for Cactus League games after spending his morning trying to learn how to play catcher.
Morgan’s body type, athletic ability and arm gave the Rangers the idea of trying him behind the plate, where there is no bona fide star catching prospect in the organization.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Morgan spent part of instructional league last fall getting a feel for the position and worked there much of spring training before the experiment was put on hold for the season.
But Morgan, 20, isn’t closing the door to a full-time switch. After traveling with the Rangers for exhibition games in San Antonio, that taste of the big leagues has instilled a do-whatever-it-takes philosophy into Morgan.
“I’m open to it. Whatever gets me to the big leagues,” said Morgan, whose primary positions at low Class A Hickory in 2015 were third base and shortstop. “I’m looking forward to that adventure . . .Whatever gets me up here, I’m going to do whatever it takes.”
Morgan made the defensive play of the two-game series as a third baseman, diving to stop a hard grounder before it shot down the left-field line, racing to the bag for a force out and then firing across to first for a double play.
A week earlier as a second baseman, Morgan went behind the bag for another diving play against the Brewers that would help save a run.
“I feel comfortable with all three (infield) positions,” Morgan said. “I’ve played all of them. I really don’t know what I’ll play this year.”
It won’t be catcher, unless in small doses, even though he had impressed the club with how seriously he was taking the challenge.
“He’s definitely opened my eyes,” big league manager Jeff Banister said. “He’s a very athletic kid. He’s got some polish on him.”
RANGER ROUNDUP
• The Rangers optioned shortstop Jurickson Profar to Triple-A Round Rock on March 21, and he knew the move was coming. “I know I’m going to need to get my playing time and work on some things to get back,” he said.
• Third baseman Joey Gallo finished his stay in big league camp with a flourish. He swatted three homers in his final eight games and finished with a .286 average.
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