Kendry Morales
From BR Bullpen
Kendrys Morales Rodriguez
- Bats Both, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 220 lb.
[edit] Biographical Information
Kendry Morales broke into the Cuban Serie Nacional in fine form in 2001-2002. After being named the best junior player in Latin America by the Pan American Baseball Federation in 2001, Morales hit .324 his rookie season for the Industriales. He was third in the Serie Nacional in homers (21), RBI (82) and total bases (203). The 3B-OF set rookie records with 114 hits, 82 RBIs, 21 home runs, 46 extra-base hits and 60 runs. He became the first teenager to make the Cuban national team since the legendary Omar Linares two decades earlier. In the 2002 Intercontinental Cup, Morales hit .270/.310/.459 with 15 RBI in 10 games for Cuba, which won a Gold Medal after Silvers in the prior two Intercontinental Cups. Morales was second to Yobal Dueñas in RBI that tourney, but did not make the All-Star team as Feng-An Tsai was chosen at first base.
In 2002-2003, Kendry hit .391, second to Osmani Urrutia, the two-time defending champ. The switch-hitter starred in the 2003 Pan-American Games, hitting a key homer in a comeback win over Panama en route to the title, but was sent back to Cuba after improper contact with an American sports official. In the 2003 Baseball World Cup, Morales hit .265/.306/.588 with 3 homers and 11 RBI in 9 games. Morales's biggest hit came in the quarterfinals; with Cuba down 3-2 in the bottom of the 9th and facing elimination from medal contention against upstart Brazil, Morales hit a 2-run homer off of Kleber Tomita to win the game. Yulieski Gourriel scored on the play. Sharnol Adriana beat out Morales for the All-Star slot at 1B.
Morales was banned from playing by the Cuban government, then he defected to the USA in June 2004 with 16 others by boat. Establishing residency in the Dominican Republic, Morales did not sign until December 1, when he inked a six-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim including a $3 million signing bonus.
Morales hit .344/.400/.544 in 22 games for the 2005 Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and .306/.349/.530 for the Arkansas Travelers with 17 HR in 74 games. Baseball America ranked him as the 7th-best prospect in the Texas League and he hit 3rd, starting for first base for the World team in the 2005 Futures Game, in which he went 1 for 2.
Kendry split 2006 between the Angels and Salt Lake Bees. Through August 24, he is at .330/.367/.533 for the Bees and .240/.302/.388 with the Anaheim club.
Sources: 2002-2006 Baseball Almanacs, BaseballAmerica.com article, IBAF site
