Franklin Morales
From BR Bullpen
Franklin Miguel Morales
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 6' 0", Weight 170 lb.
[edit] Biographical Information
Franklin Morales is a highly-regarded prospect who debuted in the majors at age 21 in 2007. His fastball has hit 97 mph on the radar gun and he has a good curveball as well.
Signed by the Colorado Rockies at age 16, Morales debuted professionally with the 2003 DSL Rockies, going 9-3 with a 2.18 ERA. In a pitcher-dominated league, he was not in the top 20 in ERA but he was only one off of the lead in wins. In 2004, Morales was 6-4 with a 7.62 ERA for the Casper Rockies. He led the Pioneer League in shutouts (1), hits allowed (92), runs allowed (61), earned runs allowed (55) and starts (15, tied for the lead). Despite his horrible ERA and so many negative statistics, Baseball America ranked him as the #19 prospect in the league, right behind J.P. Howell.
The southpaw was in full-season ball at age 19, going 8-4 with a save and a 3.08 ERA for the Asheville Tourists. The vastly improved hurler fanned 108 in 96 1/3 innings while allowing a .214 average. Had he qualified, he would have been 6th in the South Atlantic League in ERA, right behind Yovani Gallardo on the leaderboard. His 7 balks led the league. Baseball America listed him as Colorado's #3 prospect.
In 2006, Morales had a fine 10-9, 3.68 record for the Modesto Nuts in the high-scoring California League. Opponents hit .223 and he struck out 179 in 154 IP. One negative was his 89 walks, second in the league to teammate Samuel Deduno. Morales led the Cal League in strikeouts, balks and ERA. Baseball America rated him as the third-best prospect in the circuit, behind Reid Brignac and Carlos Gonzalez. He tied for fifth in the affiliated minors in walks and had the most balks but also was 4th in strikeouts behind only Yovani Gallardo, Francisco Cruceta and Matt Maloney. He had the highest strikeout total in a game in the affiliated minors when he whiffed 16 in one contest. Baseball America said he was the second-best Rockies prospect and had the best curveball in their farm system.
Morales had a good year in 2007. He was 3-4 with a 3.48 ERA for the Tulsa Drillers and 2-0 with a 3.71 ERA for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. The Venezuelan appeared in the 2007 Futures Game and fared well there also. He relieved Deolis Guerra in the fifth with two outs and fanned Ian Stewart. In the sixth, he struck out Matt Tolbert, walked Brian Bocock and K'd Jay Bruce before being relieved by Pedro Beato. Morales led the game with those three strikeouts.
Called up to Colorado, he had a fine MLB debut. Morales allowed one run in 5 1/3 IP, walking none and striking out four while allowing five hits. The first batter he faced in the majors, Rafael Furcal, bunted into an out with Morales getting the assist. Matt Kemp's homer was the sole blemish on the game. He was less successful his next game, walking five Pirates and allowing 7 hits and four runs in a loss. Morales was 3-2 with a 3.43 ERA (140 ERA+) for the 2007 Rockies in a fine debut.
Morales struggled to start 2008, going 1-2 with a 6.39 ERA, walking 17 and striking out just nine in 25 1/3 IP. He was demoted to the Colorado Springs SkySox. In his first game back with the SkySox, he combined on the first home no-hitter in team history, walking six in five hitless frames; Chris George, Matt Daley and Steven Register completed the no-hitter.
Sources: 2004-2007 Baseball Almanacs, MILB.com, 2007 Rockies Media Guide
