Christopher Morel introduced one thing to the Chicago Cubs final yr that couldn’t be measured with numbers.
From a bat-flipping celebration after homering in his first at-bat to hugging opposing gamers and fist-bumping umpires, Morel’s exuberance was unattainable to disregard.
“He’s such a positive guy, and I do think with any team, bringing up guys like that really energizes the group,” Cubs President Jed Hoyer mentioned final May.
The Cubs gave Morel taking part in time in middle discipline and at second base, shortstop and third base — his most popular place — after calling him up from Double-A Tennessee. The super-utility position suited him, and he rapidly grew to become a fan favourite.
But with Cody Bellinger signed to play middle, Nico Hoerner transferring over to second and Morel having a troublesome time defensively at third in an prolonged audition final September, the Cubs determined to ship him to Triple-A Iowa to start out the season as a substitute of taking part in him sporadically off the bench.
Morel hit 4 house runs in spring coaching, however the free-swinging prospect wants to chop down his strikeouts.
“He’s a fun guy to have around, and what’s best for us and him long term is consistent at-bats,” supervisor David Ross mentioned. “I assumed we is likely to be doing him a disservice by bringing him off the bench at instances.
“He’s got some areas he’s got to improve. And he really put himself on the map last year doing that. But that’s a representation of the depth we have. … He’ll get off to a great start down in Triple-A and be somebody that we’ll be able to call on real soon if something were to come up.”
Ross mentioned the crowded outfield state of affairs at Iowa means Morel doubtless will spend extra time within the infield. Right fielder Seiya Suzuki’s anticipated return from the injured listing within the subsequent week or so additionally factored into the Cubs’ resolution to go along with different choices in proper for the quick time period.
Miles Mastrobuoni, Trey Mancini and Patrick Wisdom began the primary three video games in proper at Wrigley Field. Mastrobuoni’s lack of aggression after changing Mancini value the Cubs in Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers when he declined to dive for a ball that fell in entrance of him for a two-run double.
Wisdom threw out a runner at second and hit a pair of solo house runs in Sunday’s 9-5 loss to the Brewers.
Morel homered and was 4-for-12 in his first three video games with Iowa, which started its season 3-0. He nonetheless is similar participant and hasn’t let the demotion have an effect on his character. Hoerner was despatched all the way down to Iowa to start out the 2021 season, a transfer the Cubs finally regretted.
Hoyer mentioned the Cubs “don’t see (Morel) as a bench player,” so the choice wasn’t that troublesome.
“The coaching staff really felt strongly that he was a really good player who we really wanted playing a lot,” Hoyer mentioned, “and having him as a bench option isn’t the right thing for his career and probably not the right thing for the length of the season.”
How lengthy Morel will stay at Iowa stays to be seen. But the Cubs already miss his vitality and enthusiasm.
In a laid-back clubhouse that introduced in a number of veterans, nobody appears prepared to choose up the torch.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com