“This Is All Me And My Family Has Ever Worked For” | Former LSU Tigers Standout Tre Morgan Officially Signs With Tampa Bay Rays

“This Is All Me And My Family Has Ever Worked For” | Former LSU Tigers Standout Tre Morgan Officially Signs With Tampa Bay Rays

by | 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.

“You Hear The Term A Lot About Being A Low-Maintenance Stroke” | D-Backs Sign Second-Round Pick LuJames “Gino” Groover

“You Hear The Term A Lot About Being A Low-Maintenance Stroke” | D-Backs Sign Second-Round Pick LuJames “Gino” Groover

by | Jul 20, 2023 | THE THREE SPOT

The 2023 Arizona Diamondbacks are playing some good ball thus far this season, sitting at a respectable (53-42) which is good enough for third in the NL West, and just two games behind the division leading Los Angeles Dodgers.

 

In last week’s MLB Draft out in Seattle, the D-Backs added whom they believe is their future third baseman, when they chose NC State Wolfpack star LuJames “Gino” Groover with the No.48 overall selection.

 

 

On Monday the team announced it had signed Groover, locking him up for the foreseeable future.

 

The pick wasn’t really all that surprising because of Groover’s bat and consistently developing defensive skills. The former Wolfpack star is fresh off a season where he carried a .976 OPS along with 13 home runs in 57 games for the Pack. It was good enough to earn him All-ACC third-team honors, and it helped catapult him into the majors.

 

His development on defense also played a role in why the D-Backs were intrigued, as Groover showed marked improvement at third base where he started 56 of his 57 games played in 2023. But, at the end of the day it’s his bat and how smooth he is at the plate that sets him apart.

 

Groover Was Great In NCAA Tournament

One season after the Wolfpack were snubbed out of an NCAA Tournament berth, they clinched a No.3 seed. In the tourney, Groover went 4-12 with two homers in the three games, showing off his power at the plate.

 

 

That, plus his plate discipline and ability to spray the ball to all parts of the field were too intriguing for the D-Backs to pass up. According to the team’s director of amateur scouting, Ian Rebhan, Groover’s approach at the plate is definitely something that caught the eye of the D-Backs.

 

Here’s what he told reporters about the pick.

 

“You hear the term a lot about being a low-maintenance stroke,” Rebhan said. “When you get into pro ball, you’re facing really good competition, I think those things matter. It’s the simplicity and the contact skills and the way the ball comes off the bat. I think there’s a chance for power there, too.”

 

D-Backs Continue Influx Of Young Talent

 

With their first-round pick, the D-Backs chose Stanford infielder Tommy Troy, No.12 overall. Troy and Groover are the latest on a list of talented young players over the last 4-5 drafts. That list includes Corbin Carroll (2019), MLBbro Alek Thomas (2018), Jake McCarthy (2018), Ryan Nelson (2019), and Tommy Henry (2019).

 

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Coming into the 2023 season the D-Backs farm system was ranked No.3 by MLB Pipeline, thanks in part to MLB Draft picks last year, Druw Jones (No.2), Landon Sims (No.34) and Ivan Melendez (No.43). Adding Troy and Groover should only help strengthen that high ranking.