Christopher Rafael Morel (born June 24, 1999) is a Dominican professional baseball utility player for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

Christopher Morel
Chicago Cubs – No. 5
Utility player
Born: (1999-06-24) June 24, 1999 (age 24)
Santiago, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 17, 2022, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.241
Home runs42
Runs batted in117
Teams

Professional career edit

Morel signed with the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent on August 23, 2015. In 2017, he was assigned to the Cubs team of the Dominican Summer League.[1] In 61 games, he batted .220 with 49 hits, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 7 home runs, and 23 stolen bases. He spent the 2018 season with A- Eugene Emeralds, and Rookie League AZL Cubs. In 54 games, he batted .216 with 44 hits, 8 doubles and 3 home runs. He spent the 2019 season with the A-level South Bend Cubs. In 73 games, he batted .284, with 73 hits, 15 doubles, 7 triples, and 6 home runs.

He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] The Cubs added Morel to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft on November 20, 2020.[3] He spent the 2021 season with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, and Triple-A Iowa Cubs. In 111 games, he batted .223 with 90 hits, 18 doubles, 5 triples, and a career-high 18 home runs.[4]

Morel started the 2022 season with Double-A Tennessee but was recalled to the major leagues on May 17. Morel made his major league debut later that day, and hit a home run in his first career at-bat during a 7–0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.[5] Morel appeared in 113 games for the Cubs in his rookie campaign, hitting .235/.308/.433 with 16 home runs, 47 RBI, and 10 stolen bases.

Morel was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to begin the 2023 season.[6]

Morel was recalled by the Cubs on May 8, 2023 after slashing .330/.425/.730 with 11 home runs and 31 RBI over 29 games in Triple-A Iowa.[7] Upon his promotion, Morel became the first Cub in franchise history to record nine home runs in his first 12 games of a season on May 23, 2023.[8]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Christopher Morel Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved 2022-05-29.
  2. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  3. ^ Gonzales, Mark (20 November 2020). "Chicago Cubs add 3 to their 40-man roster, leaving 3 spots open for free-agent signings or trade acquisitions". chicagotribune.com.
  4. ^ "Christopher Morel Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2022-05-29.
  5. ^ "Cubs' Christopher Morel homers in first MLB at-bat as Chicago wins blowout vs. Pirates". CBSSports.com. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
  6. ^ "Cubs' Christopher Morel: Optioned to Triple-A". cbssports.com. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  7. ^ "Christopher Morel joining Cubs". mlb.com. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  8. ^ "Chicago Cubs' Christopher Morel Makes Team History on Sunday". si.com. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-22.

External links edit