by Devon POV Mason | Jun 25, 2024 | THE THREE SPOT
This time last year, Tampa Bay Rays prospect Tre Morgan was helping lead the LSU Tigers to their seventh College World Series (second most all-time).
With teammates like pitcher Paul Skenes (first overall pick, Pirates) and outfielder Dylan Crews (second overall pick, Nationals) getting most of the pre-draft hype, first baseman Tre Morgan despite his consistent play went under the radar a bit.
The Rays took the talented first baseman in the third round of the draft, and 11 months later they have no regrets.
“This Is All Me And My Family Has Ever Worked For” | Former LSU Tigers Standout Tre Morgan Officially Signs With Tampa Bay Rays
At the time of the 2023 MLB Draft amateur scouting director Chuck Rocco raved about Morgan’s skill set ….
“He is a really fun player to watch. Elite defender, good contact, skills, plays the game with a ton of energy and very relaxed. I guess you could say he was one of the room’s favorite player to talk about this week, so we’re really excited.”
Now just about three months into his first professional season, Morgan’s development has been so accelerated that Rays team brass is still swelling with excitement. In fact, it’s actually even higher now seeing Morgan perform at an elite level against major league prospects.
Morgan Gets Quick Call Up
After spending just 26 games at Single-A Charleston, Morgan got the call up to High-A Bowling Green. Morgan got off to a blistering start going (19-42) in 52 plate appearances.
Tampa Bay Rays Prospect Tre Morgan Hoping To Help Lead Charleston Riverdogs To Fourth Consecutive SAL Championship
That included a .452 batting average along with nine doubles, two home runs, 12 RBIs, eight walks, just one different strikeout. His 1.359 OPS ranked highest on the team. On defense, Morgan even ventured out to left field showing his versatility.
Morgan was recognized as the Rays Minor League Player of the Month. Following the announcement of Morgan winning the award, Blake Butera the Rays senior director of player development told reporters this.
“He’s been outstanding. Doesn’t strike out. All over the barrel. Gives you tremendous at-bats. Comes to play every day. He’s done a nice job at first base and also outfield.”
Morgan Is A Difference Maker
If Morgan’s hot month of May was any indication of what’s to come, the Rays have very likely landed a future difference maker for them. This season Morgan is batting .339 with four homers and 29 RBI, his .934 OPS is tops on the Hot Rods’ roster. He’s also stolen 12 bases in 15 tries.
In his short minor league career including last season’s 14 games and this season’s 45-game slate, Morgan is raking with a .351 batting average with five total homers and 35 RBI.
In 222 career at-bats Morgan has 78 hits while drawing 30 walks, meaning he’s been on base 108 of those 222 at-bats. With an expected 2026 call-up, Morgan is setting the table and developing just the way the Rays envisioned when they took him in last year’s draft.
by Devon POV Mason | Apr 30, 2024 | 5TH SLOT
Tampa Bay Rays prospect Tre Morgan is beginning his second season in the minors. The player who many call the unsung hero of LSU’s 2023 College World Series championship squad was taken in the third round of last year’s MLB Draft.
Related: 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 | mlbbro.com
Playing on a team that featured the top two picks in last year’s draft (Paul Skenes, Pirates) and (Dylan Crews, Nationals) Morgan like many of his teammates often times flew under-the-radar.
“This Is All Me And My Family Has Ever Worked For” | Former LSU Tigers Standout Tre Morgan Officially Signs With Tampa Bay Rays
But that’s not to say Morgan’s contribution was small, as the 6-foot and 215-pounder showed plenty of range and a solid bat in a loaded Tigers lineup. In his final season in Baton Rouge Morgan batted .316 with nine homers and 53 RBI. He also drove in 65 runs while compiling 85 total hits.
Morgan’s numbers in his three-year career at LSU look like this, .332 batting average with an on-base percentage of .424. Morgan also boasted solid slugging .497 and OPS numbers .921 while also driving in 149 RBI, 20 homers, with 49 of those hits being doubles. Those numbers scream high-round draft pick.
Morgan Excited For Second MiLB Season
As Morgan begins his second season with the Rays High-A affiliate Charleston Riverdogs he’s hoping to help lead the team its fourth consecutive SAL Championship.
Last season was a blur for Morgan who helped the Tigers win it all, and one week later he was being drafted by the Rays. The Rays quickly paid Morgan a ($783,800) signing bonus and shipped him down to Port Charlotte to be with the rookies.
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
With his second season now started, Morgan recently reflected on the whirlwind turnaround from championship college player to being in the minors. In a recent post practice interview Morgan had this to say.
“It was a whirlwind. One moment I was out on the field in Omaha, Nebraska celebrating a national championship with all of my teammates, and the next I was at the Rays complex starting my professional career.
“Getting drafted was a dream come true, but it was like I got a chance to appreciate what we’d accomplished. It all happened so fast.”
If Morgan hasn’t noticed by now that’s how it goes in the minors. Baseball is hard and it takes years of preparation for one to perfect his craft on the diamond.
Morgan Says Minor League Horror Stories Are A Myth
Morgan told reporters that prior to joining the Riverdogs last year he’d heard all kinds of horror stories of how things went in the minors, but he says it’s nowhere near that bad.
“I had no idea what minor league baseball was all about,” Morgan said. “People told me how terrible it was going to be. I remember coming to Charleston and stepping on the field and feeling all the energy in the building and thinking this was awesome.
“I wouldn’t say the transformation from college to the pro ball has been easy, but coming to Charleston was the perfect place for me to start my career. It has the same feel as a lot of SEC ball parks.”
Morgan Expected To Play Outfield As Well
While at LSU Morgan was pretty much relegated to first base, while he did have a small sample size in the outfield, Riverdogs manager Sean Smedley wants to see more of him there.
“We know what kind of first baseman Tre is, so having him play a little in the outfield will add another tool to his skillset.”
In a small sample size last season, Morgan batted .389 with two RBI and four stolen bases. Thus far this season he’s batting .258 with two homers, four RBI and five stolen bases.
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 | 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.
Recent Comments