by Devon POV Mason | Jul 25, 2023 | 5TH SLOT
The 2023 MLB Draft was heavy on LSU Tigers aka “Bayou Bengals.” With the top two picks being pitcher Paul Skenes going first overall to the Pittsburgh Pirates and outfielder going second overall to the Washington Nationals.
In all the Tigers saw 13 picks from their 2023 national championship squad drafted in the 2023 MLB Draft. While Skenes and Crews are expected to be stars, first baseman/outfielder Tre Morgan who was selected in the third round is believed to be the Rays future starter there at first. But he’s also capable of playing in the outfield as well.
LSU Baller Tre Morgan Is Not Your Prototypical First Baseman | But His Diverse Skill Set Allows Him To Impact The Game In All Phases For SEC Power LSU
On Friday, Morgan and the Rays agreed to a deal worth $783,800 which is the full value for the slot. The move, which was expected, means Morgan can now get to work on making that climb to the majors.
Following his selection earlier this month, an elated Morgan told reporters this.
“This is all me and my family has ever worked for. I get an opportunity to continue my baseball career.”
Morgan Was Dynamite In 2023
Known for his acrobatic throws and plays at first base, the defensive savant also had a great year at the plate in helping the LSU Tigers capture their seventh national championship. Only the USC Trojans have more as a program (12).
For the season, Morgan hit nine homers in 69 games for the Tigers. For his efforts he was named to the 2023 College World Series All-Tournament Team.
In his three-year career he batted .332 with 20 homers and 149 RBI.
From the moment he arrived at LSU by way of Brother Martin High School in New Orleans, he shined. Morgan, along with fellow MLB Draft picks Skenes and Crews, were true difference-makers for the Tigers this season.
What Are The Rays Getting In Morgan?
As an overall player, Morgan possesses great versatility, and that element to his game really shows on defense. He was great at first base, but actually played more innings in left field where he also didn’t miss a beat. That type of versatility from a player is what GMs and managers crave.
On offense the Rays are getting a contact hitter who tallied more than 80 hits in each of his three collegiate seasons. Some say Morgan is a tweener, but that’s not a bad thing in baseball, because in essence he can used as a utility player if need be.
No matter what, Morgan is the type of player that teams love to have at their disposal because of his elite versatility.
by Devon POV Mason | Jun 8, 2023 | 5TH SLOT
IMG Academy pitcher Cameron Johnson is about as intimidating as you’ll find on a high school mound.
Standing 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, and with a left arm that often befuddles batters, Johnson is one of the highly-touted high school prospects who expect to hear their name called in next month’s MLB Draft. The southpaw transferred from DMV power Bishop McNamara to IMG Academy in an effort to face stiffer competition and help him prepare for his future.
The LSU commit is currently the 74th-ranked prospect on ProspectsLive Top 300 board for the 2023 MLB Draft. In fact, Johnson is being mentioned as a possible first-round selection.
Transferring to IMG Academy was a power move as he looked to join a developmental system that prepared some of the best athletes in all of sports year after year.
In an interview with Baseball Prospect Journal prior to the season, Johnson talked about the guys IMG has produced on the baseball side of things.
“I thought the whole program was good for me in terms of my development,” Johnson said. “Watching players like Elijah Green, Mason Albright, James Wood, and Jackson Ferris and how they progressed and made it to the minor leagues, I want to follow in their footsteps. That is why I chose IMG.”
Green and Ferris were chosen in the first and second rounds of last year’s draft and given Johnson’s immense potential, the same could happen for him in about a month.
Johnson’s Potential Is Through The Roof
Blessed with great size and good command, the lefty has scouts believing he can be an early-round selection, and as early as Round 1. Even with all the hype and noise around Johnson, he hasn’t let it distract him from trying to get better every day.
“For me, I try not to look at mock drafts and draft rankings because I want to focus on my development,” Johnson said. “I know those rankings are going to change after the spring when everyone is done playing. I want to work on myself and be the best version of Cam Johnson I can be.”
Johnson Has A Solid Array Of Go-To Pitches
Johnson’s two best pitches are his overpowering fastball that touches 97 MPH and slider combination. And not to put unnecessary pressure on the kid, he looks a lot like former New York Yankees great and Black Ace, C.C. Sabathia from a size and standpoint. C.C. won over 250 games in his career with over 3,000 strikeouts using a dominant fastball and curveball which kept hitters off-balance.
Johnson has also unveiled a change-up to his pitch package that gives both right and left-handed hitters fits. In all, Johnson has no fear throwing any of his pitches and he loves to challenge batters. When asked about his strengths as a pitcher, Johnson said this.
“My body physique and quality fastball. My fastball has 20-inch horizontal movement. That is very big for me. I also have the wipeout slider. The pitch is an overpowering pitch that I feel hitters can’t get an eye on.”
LSU Is Getting A Good One If Johnson Does Go To College
When you hear first or early round draft projections for a player, often times they end up never playing for the college they committed to. For Johnson that may be the case, but he says he chose the Bayou Bengals because of the coaching staff.
“What stood out was that LSU had to offer with its new coaches,” Johnson said. “The program is on the rise, and I want to be part of that dynasty culture.”
It also doesn’t hurt that LSU has 19 College World Series appearances (7th all-time), and six CWS titles (2nd all-time). With Johnson’s wing at their disposal LSU will be strong favorites to win CWS each season he’s available, following in the path of MLBbro pitcher Kumar Rocker whose exemplary pitching had Vanderbilt competing for big stakes each season.
by Devon POV Mason | May 23, 2023 | THE THREE SPOT
When you hear LSU Tigers baseball you automatically think of projected first overall pick in the upcoming 2023 MLB Draft and the top prospect in the MLB Draft, outfielder Dylan Crews.
And it should be that way with Crews in many ways being considered a generational prospect. But Crews has a teammate in first baseman and utility player Tre Morgan who’s sort of flying under-the-radar. Morgan possesses all the tools to be a very good player at the major league level, once they figure where he’s best suited.
Tre Morgan Leads LSU Tigers Into SEC Tournament
Not your typical first baseman, Morgan has excelled there for the Tigers over his career, and in 2023 he’s been stellar for the 42-13 Tigers, who are preparing to face No.11 seed Georgia on Wednesday in the SEC Tournament. The contributions of Morgan will go a long way in determining how the Tigers will fare down in Hoover, Alabama.
This season Morgan, who stands 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds with great speed, athleticism, and elite baseball instincts, is batting .304 with 62 hits in 262 plate appearances and 204 at-bats. He’s accumulated 40 RBI, 7 HRs, 10 doubles, and three triples. His patience at the plate has led to 27 walks as well, which has spearheaded the Tigers talented offense at times.
Morgan’s Elite Versatility Allows Him To Impact The Game In Many Ways: MLBbro Bound
Since his arrival in July of 2021, the multi-talented Morgan has been a huge piece of the Tigers program. He quickly etched a niche and became one of the top players in the very tough Southeastern Conference. His college production and continued development is why he’s now slated to be a very likely an early-round pick in July’s MLB Draft.
For Morgan it’s always been his dream to play at the highest level, with those just months away from being a realization, he’s not letting it take his attention away from the lofty goals for the Tigers the rest of this season. LSU is trying to win its first national championship since 2009.
Morgan recently told reporters this in an interview ahead of the SEC Tournament.
“The team’s success is the only thing that matters to me. I’ve never won a championship in anything, so that’s my goal. However, let the chips fall where they may for the draft.”
While Morgan doesn’t hit with the power expectancy of a traditional first baseman, he does his damage in other ways: attacking the gaps and hitting for a high batting average. Good plate discipline has also led to him being one of the leaders in the SEC as it pertains to not striking out.
Over his three-year career he’s batted over .330 with just 90 strikeouts, and those aforementioned 77 walks.
Morgan Is Lauded For His Competitive Nature
While Morgan has spent most of his time at first base, he’s also played in left field when needed. For someone like Tre, it’s all about being a competitor and helping his team in any way he can.
“The biggest strength I have is my competitive nature,” Morgan said. “It is the way I carry myself when I step on the field, no matter who I am facing or what team we are playing. You have to show me how good you are. I’m not going to go out there and fold just because you are a prospect or having a good season. You have to impress me and beat me.”
That type of attitude is contagious and spreads throughout the Tigers team. With talented future MLBbros like Morgan leading the way, LSU is expected to make a run at the College World Series in hopes of capturing the program’s seventh national championship.
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