Franklin Morales
Encyclopedia
Franklin Miguel Morales (born January 24, 1986, in San Juan de los Morros
, Venezuela
) is an Venezuela
n professional baseball
pitcher
with the Boston Red Sox
of Major League Baseball
. A power-throwing left-hander, Morales was seen as one of the leading prospects in the Rockies farm system. He has a very good fastball
, but his control is still developing. He had come up as a starting pitcher
, and in 2010 was moved into the bullpen to serve as the Rockies closer.
debut on August 18, 2007, against the Los Angeles Dodgers
. He pitched 5 1/3 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 is known for his very distinctive and effective pickoff-move.
On April 29, 2008, Morales was optioned to the Colorado Rockies
Triple-A affiliate Colorado Springs Sky Sox
in response to sub-par performance during the early 2008 Major League season.
In spring training in 2009, Morales led all pitchers in pickoffs, with 5, in 28 innings.http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/sortable_player_stats.jsp?c_id=mlb§ion2=1&statSet2=2&sortByStat=PK&statType=2&timeFrame=1&timeSubFrame=23&baseballScope=mlb&prevPage2=1&readBoxes=true&sitSplit=&venueID=&subScope=pos&teamPosCode=all. He began the regular season in the starting rotation, but after struggling early he was optioned to the AAA Colorado Springs Sky Sox
. He was called back up and has been pitching from the bullpen since July 7.
Morales was moved into the bullpen to serve as the team's closer, where as of April 13, 2010, he has gone 2 for 2 in save situations.
for a player to be named later
or cash considerations. On May 22, he made his debut appearance for the Red Sox in a game against the Chicago Cubs.
San Juan de los Morros
San Juan de los Morros is the capital of the Guarico state and capital of the Juan Germán Roscio municipality, and is a town located in central Venezuela.- Overview :...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
) is an Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. A power-throwing left-hander, Morales was seen as one of the leading prospects in the Rockies farm system. He has a very good fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
, but his control is still developing. He had come up as a starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, and in 2010 was moved into the bullpen to serve as the Rockies closer.
Colorado Rockies
He made his Major LeagueMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
debut on August 18, 2007, against the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, gave up one run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, but got a no-decision. In 2007, Morales was selected to the All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
at AT&T Park
AT&T Park
AT&T Park is a ballpark located in the South Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, at the corner of Third and King Streets, it has served as the home of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball since 2000....
in San Francisco.
Morales is known for his very distinctive and effective pickoff-move.
On April 29, 2008, Morales was optioned to the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
Triple-A affiliate Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
in response to sub-par performance during the early 2008 Major League season.
In spring training in 2009, Morales led all pitchers in pickoffs, with 5, in 28 innings.http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/sortable_player_stats.jsp?c_id=mlb§ion2=1&statSet2=2&sortByStat=PK&statType=2&timeFrame=1&timeSubFrame=23&baseballScope=mlb&prevPage2=1&readBoxes=true&sitSplit=&venueID=&subScope=pos&teamPosCode=all. He began the regular season in the starting rotation, but after struggling early he was optioned to the AAA Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
. He was called back up and has been pitching from the bullpen since July 7.
Morales was moved into the bullpen to serve as the team's closer, where as of April 13, 2010, he has gone 2 for 2 in save situations.
Boston Red Sox
On May 19, 2011, Morales was acquired by the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for a player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
or cash considerations. On May 22, he made his debut appearance for the Red Sox in a game against the Chicago Cubs.