The Chicago Cubs made an interesting move on Tuesday by calling up Christopher Morel from Double-A Tennessee. With players such as shortstop Nico Hoerner and outfielder Jason Heyward (COVID-related) on the Injured List, the Cubs chose to call up Morel, who’s known for having high-upside skills both offensively and defensively (where he plays all over the diamond).
Well, Morel made his major-league debut with two outs in the bottom of the eighth as a pinch-hitter. He fell behind 0-2 in the count, before working the count to 3-2. Once it became a full count, the Wrigley Field crowd stood up and got loud for the rookie in a 6-0 game.
And then he destroyed a baseball.
Morel cranked a 417-foot home run that landed on Waveland Avenue. The blast had a 111.3 mph exit velocity.
This is an incredible moment, and Morel’s trip around the bases is entertaining as well:
The Friendly Confines can't contain Christopher Morel. pic.twitter.com/GUh9loc1jo
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 18, 2022
Christopher Morel welcome to the show! 417ft. 💣 @Cubs @cachorros #ItsDifferentHere pic.twitter.com/EVNvUycNVD
— Miguel Esparza (@Miguelsvoice) May 18, 2022
Christopher Morel introduces himself. pic.twitter.com/oH2VHov6U8
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 18, 2022
Willson Conteras Christopher Morel
🤝
Homering in their 1st MLB PA pic.twitter.com/rWOifJ7Ubi
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 18, 2022
Christopher Morel said he told Willson Contreras and Alfonso Rivas an inning before his first AB that he was going to hit a HR. Did he even know he was going in the next inning?
"Oh no… but I got to be ready."
— Ryan Herrera (@ryan_a_herrera) May 18, 2022
Morel fell behind 0-2 and proceeded to hit a 3-2 pitch 111.3 mph onto Waveland Ave. in his first career AB.
— Matt Clapp (@TheBlogfines) May 18, 2022
I mean, I ALREADY had chills when the crowd got loud on its feet for him taking it to 3-2. So for Morel to then DESTROY the next pitch? I'm losing my mind.
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) May 18, 2022
Amazing.
Morel, 22, had a .306/.380/.565 slash line with seven home runs in 122 plate appearances this season for the Tennessee Smokies. He hit 18 homers in 456 plate appearances in the minors last season.
FanGraphs ranked Morel 16th among prospects in the Cubs’ farm system entering this season.
Additionally, Cubs pitcher Brandon Hughes made his MLB debut in this game, and he did an incredible job as well.
Hughes threw 1 2/3 innings, allowing no runs and striking out five batters for all five of the outs he recorded.
Brandon Hughes of the @Cubs is the first pitcher in the modern era to get 5+ outs in his MLB debut with all of them coming via strikeout.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) May 18, 2022
Brandon Hughes, Vicious Sliders. 😤 pic.twitter.com/4o0f6Xb6I8
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 18, 2022
The Cubs beat the Pirates 7-0, a day after beating the Pirates 9-0 (the Cubs also had a 21-0 win over the Pirates in April).
