The Dodgers kicked off the 2024 worldwide beginner interval by signing Dominican shortstop Emil Morales to a minor league contract. Monetary particulars will not be but identified.
The staff is anticipated to announce its full slate of signees later as we speak. The Dodgers have a bonus pool of $5.925 million to spend. Morales is one eight Latin American amateurs who’ve signed or agreed to phrases with the Dodgers as of as we speak, in line with Baseball America.
Baseball America ranked Morales tenth general on this yr’s worldwide signing class. From their scouting report:
Morales constantly strings collectively high quality at-bats. He has a mature offensive strategy, acknowledges pitches effectively and has carried out effectively in opposition to dwell pitching. It’s a sound swing for his age with energy that has trended up as he has added energy to his decrease half and will spike extra within the coming years. Morales is an offensive-oriented shortstop who’s constructed extra like a 3rd baseman, with many scouts believing he’ll slide over to 3rd base within the close to future. He’s a below-average runner who’s a gradual defender on the balls he will get to at shortstop with a solid-average arm, although his actions and mobility possible match greatest at third base.Â
Baseball America
MLB.com ranked Morales 14th general. Jesse Borek and Jesus Cano, who reported the signing for MLB.com, wrote:
Morales is a big-bodied prospect with the potential to develop right into a game-changing energy bat. He’s proven the power to handle the strike zone and is affected person sufficient to attract walks constantly. When he will get his pitch, he activates it shortly and drives the ball to all fields with authority. Morales flashes residence run energy, and extra could possibly be on the best way as he seems to be to construct upon his 6-foot-3, 180-pound body. Like most teenage prospects, Morales is engaged on repeating his mechanics within the batter’s field, however that ought to enhance as soon as he receives every day instruction on the membership’s academy.
MLB.com
FanGraphs.com was highest on Morales, rating him second general on this yr’s class. Writes Eric Longenhagen:
Morales has maybe the very best long-term energy projection among the many 2024 worldwide class infielders, as a lot of the different prospects with broad receiver-ish builds are outfielders. Morales has broad shoulders, lengthy levers, and a excessive waist that provides him the look of an early-career Fernando Tatis Jr. within the uniform. Morales additionally has explosive energy to his pull facet and might already put balls out to lifeless middle area at age 17. In contrast to numerous lanky teenage hitters, Morales’ bat-to-ball efficiency in beginner occasions was statistically sturdy. On movie, his palms have a late, deep transfer that I fear will make him late in opposition to professional velocity, nevertheless it’s too early to care a lot about that. Morales bends effectively for an athlete of his measurement and construct, and he has an honest shot to remain at shortstop. Whereas he’s a ability match there, it’s believable that sheer measurement will power him to maneuver in his early-to-mid-20s. Morales is anticipated to signal for about $2.5 million.
FanGraphs.com
Photograph Credit score: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports activities
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