Franklin Morales
| Franklin Morales | |
|---|---|
 Franklin Morales, Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles, warming up before the game, September 28, 2011 | |
| Colorado Rockies | |
| Pitcher | |
|
Born: January 24, 1986 San Juan de los Morros, Venezuela | |
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
| MLB debut | |
| August 18, 2007 for the Colorado Rockies | |
| Career statistics (through 2013 season) | |
| Win-loss record | 13-18 |
| Earned run average | 4.38 |
| Strikeouts | 242 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Franklin Miguel Morales (born January 24, 1986) is an Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher with the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball.
Professional career
Colorado Rockies
A power-throwing left-hander, Morales made his Major League debut on August 18, 2007, against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He pitched 5⅓ innings, gave up one run, but got a no-decision. In 2007, Morales was selected to the All-Star Futures Game at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Morales made 8 starts in 2007 going 3-2 with a 3.43 ERA. He was also part of the Rockies' 25-man active roster for the postseason where the team went to the World Series for the first time ever but lost to the Red Sox in a 4-game sweep.
On April 29, 2008, Morales was optioned to the Colorado Rockies Triple-A affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in response to a sub-par performance during the early 2008 Major League season. During the 2008 season, he made 5 starts going 1-2 with a 6.39 ERA in the Majors.
In spring training in 2009, Morales led all pitchers in pickoffs, with 5, in 28 innings.. He began the regular season in the starting rotation, but after struggling early he was optioned to the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox. He was called back up and has been pitching from the bullpen since July 7. In 2009, Morales made 40 appearances (2 starts) going 3-2 with a 4.50 ERA.
In 2010, Morales made 35 relief appearances going 0-4 with a 6.28 ERA.
Morales started the 2011 season with 14 relief appearances going 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA.
Boston Red Sox
On May 19, 2011, Morales was acquired by the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later or cash considerations.[1] On May 22, he made his debut appearance for the Red Sox in a game against the Chicago Cubs. Morales finished the 2011 season with Boston making 36 relief appearances going 1-1 with a 3.62 ERA. Overall in 2011 combined with two teams, Morales made a total of 50 appearances going 1-2 with a 3.69 ERA.
Near the end of the 2012 season, Morales was injured. He was diagnosed with a shoulder injury. He had a starting job before September and stuck with it until his injury. On January 16, 2012, Morales signed a one-year deal worth $850K with the Red Sox, avoiding arbitration.[2] During the 2012 season, Morales made 37 appearances (9 starts) going 3-4 with a 3.77 ERA. In the off-season he trained to be a starter for 2013.
In 2013, Morales made 20 appearances (1 start) going 2-2 with a 4.62 ERA. Morales made 3 appearances in the postseason. In his final appearance in a Red Sox uniform, he relieved Clay Buchholz in Game 6 of the ALCS. With the Red ahead 1-0 in the 6th inning and two inherited runners on base, Morales walked Prince Fielder on 4 pitches, then fell behind Victor Martinez before yielding a 2-run Wall Ball single. Morales was replaced by Brandon Workman who ended the inning without further damage. The Sox won the game when Shane Victorino hit a 7th inning grand slam. Morales did not pitch in the World Series as the Red Sox won the championship over the St. Louis Cardinals. He was traded by the Red Sox before the end of the year.
Second stint with Rockies
On December 18, 2013, Morales was traded back to the Colorado Rockies along with minor league pitcher Chris Martin for utility man Jonathan Herrera.
References
- ↑ Stanwood, Greg (2011-05-19). "The Franklin Morales Era Concludes: Traded to Red Sox". Purple Row. SB Nation. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
- ↑ Bopp, Justin (January 16, 2012). "Red Sox Sign Franklin Morales to 1-Year, $850K Deal". MLB Daily Dish.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
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