Alfonso Soriano doesn’t get an opportunity to look at many Chicago Cubs video games in his Tampa, Fla., house, however he’s seen sufficient of Chicago Cubs rookie Christopher Morel to know the rookie has a promising future.
“Oh man, I’ve seen him and he’s got a lot of talent,” Soriano mentioned Wednesday whereas treating his son Allen’s journey league group to an evening at his previous stomping grounds. “So I hope he can have a great career. He’s shown it already in a few games.”
Morel and Soriano are kindred spirits, so it was good to see Morel introduce himself to the previous Cubs star throughout batting observe at Wrigley Field.
But that has been Morel’s M.O. since making his major-league debut May 17 and hitting a house run in his first at-bat at Wrigley Field. He has grow to be the Cubs’ unofficial ambassador, placing the pleasant in Friendly Confines.
Morel began Wednesday’s recreation in opposition to the San Diego Padres the identical manner he has all season — by greeting the plate umpire and opposing catcher with a fist bump earlier than main off the primary inning.
Most umpires have fist-bumped Morel again, although CB Bucknor declined the opposite evening, giving him a well mannered nod as an alternative. Morel mentioned it’s a convention he began within the minors.
“Every time I get a chance to say hi to somebody, I do it,” Morel mentioned. “If somebody feels good, then I feel good too.”
It’s refreshing to look at younger gamers comparable to Morel come up and benefit from the second. A serious-league profession goes by quick, and if a participant lets the pressures of the sport get to him he can flip bitter at an early age.
Soriano knew that and by no means got here to the ballpark in a nasty temper, by no means was affected by fan booing and by no means hid from reporters when he was in a droop.
That’s one motive a number of dozen previous acquaintances — entrance workplace workers, clubhouse staff, reporters and safety guards — stopped by the sector earlier than Wednesday’s recreation to say hiya to Soriano, who has seldom been again to Wrigley since being traded to the New York Yankees in 2013.
Soriano had a job he beloved and mentioned he by no means forgot that.
“I used to be blessed to have the talent to play,” he mentioned. “Why would I ever be mad? I played a long time and did something I loved to do. I like when I hear young guys in the game have that mentality and that character, so good for Morel.”
The Cubs want Morel now greater than ever with the season spiraling downward. They carried an eight-game shedding streak into Wednesday and have been at risk of being handed within the National League Central by the lowly Cincinnati Reds, who started the season 3-22.
It’s going to be a protracted season for the Cubs. No one anticipated a lot entering into, however it has been onerous to look at nonetheless. So followers want causes to maintain watching the remaining 100 video games, and the Cubs want advertisers for the Marquee Sports Network and other people to purchase beer and scorching canines at Wrigley throughout a season going nowhere.
Morel and prime pitching prospect Caleb Kilian, who was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday to face the Padres, are two children who could make issues attention-grabbing. Morel already has sealed a spot on the roster the remainder of the best way. He began his profession by reaching base in a franchise-record 22 straight video games whereas taking part in stable protection in middle subject and at second, third and shortstop.
“He’s got some long levers, real power there,” supervisor David Ross mentioned not too long ago. “Moving him around the field, his skill set, the tools show up daily. He’s still learning some moments. He’s still a kid out there running around high-fiving everybody, and sometimes we need to rein him in in that area.”
That can be a disgrace. Baseball wants gamers who seem like they’re having fun with themselves, and the Cubs have a convention of exuberant gamers, from Jose Cardenal to Sammy Sosa, from Soriano to Morel.
Morel is beginning to get observed extra typically as he rides his scooter to the ballpark or stops by the native Starbucks.
“Every time that happens I say thank God for this moment,” he mentioned. “It’s super amazing. I think I have a lot of support going on all around me with everything that’s happened. But my responsibility to the team is to focus on baseball, and that’s what I’m doing.”
Kilian, in the meantime, had a tough begin Wednesday, throwing 30 pitches within the Padres’ two-run first inning whereas pitching with a 19-mph wind blowing straight out. He hopes to stay round for some time, however he was known as up for his second begin solely due to accidents to Marcus Stroman, Drew Smyly and Wade Miley. None of the three veteran starters is near returning, however that doesn’t imply Kilian received’t be despatched again to Iowa.
“At some point he’ll be in that thing every day as long as he continues to do what he’s been doing,” Ross mentioned, referring to the rotation. “He’s got a really bright future in our eyes. If you go out and do this, you’re never going back down. That’s usually how a major-league player’s tenure happens.”
Morel paved the best way. Now it’s as much as Kilian to comply with in his footsteps.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com