Nyjer Morgan
Encyclopedia
Nyjer Jamid Morgan nicknamed Tony Plush is a Major League Baseball
outfielder
for the Milwaukee Brewers
.
Morgan also played ice hockey
, reaching the Major Junior
level with the Regina Pats
of the Western Hockey League
in 1999–2000. Following that season, Morgan turned his focus exclusively to baseball
and was drafted by the Pirates in the 33rd round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
.
as a late-season call-up. On September 14, 2007, Morgan made a catch in Minute Maid Park
's center field that proved the difference in a 4–3 Pirates win. Houston Astros
manager Cecil Cooper
said of the catch "That's probably the best catch I've seen this year.". The catch garnered references to Willie Mays
' The Catch on SportsCenter
the following day. Morgan also showed his tools
against the San Diego Padres
on September 20, going 2 for 3 with a triple
, two runs
scored, two stolen base
s, and an outfield assist throwing out Scott Hairston
. Morgan's first home run
came September 25 against the Arizona Diamondbacks
.
, but lost the position battle to Nate McLouth
during spring training
. After a poor start to the season, he was optioned to the Triple-A affiliate Indianapolis Indians
. Morgan made several appearances for the Pirates, but spent most of his season in Indianapolis until a productive September call up to the parent club.
Although he stole 42 bases in 2009 (second in the league), he was caught 17 times—tied for the most in the majors.
in exchange for outfielder Lastings Milledge
and pitcher Joel Hanrahan
. Morgan fractured his hand sliding into third base on August 27, 2009, and was placed on the 15-day disabled list
on August 28. In 2009, he was third in the league in steals (34), and led it in caught stealing (17).
On July 22, 2010, Morgan became the first Nationals player to steal three bases in one game.
in exchange for prospect Cutter Dykstra (son of baseball player Lenny Dykstra
). Morgan fractured his middle finger in the 8th inning on a sacrifice bunt against Jonny Venters. After two separate stints on the disabled list, he joined Carlos Gomez
in a platoon in center field with Gomez in the lineup versus left-handed pitchers and Morgan in the lineup versus righties. On June 8 against the New York Mets
, Nyjer hit his first walk-off with a double down the right field line at Miller Park
to win the game 7–6. After the game Morgan was interviewed and was very excited, claiming that he didn't even know it was a walkoff until he saw his teammates running out onto the field. On October 7, Morgan had a series-clinching walk-off base hit in the 10th inning of Game 5 of the NLDS against the Arizona Diamondbacks
. The Brewers won the game 3–2, giving the Brewers their first playoff series win since 1982.
In 2011, he batted .304 and was third in the NL in hit by pitch (14) and sacrifice hits (15).
hit a fly ball to center. Morgan dropped the ball and it caromed away. Instead of going after the ball, Morgan reacted by angrily throwing his glove to the ground and walked away as the ball rolled into left field. Before a teammate was able to retrieve it, Jones had circled the bases for an inside the park home run.
On September 7, 2011, Morgan created two posts on his twitter account mocking Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals "Alberta couldn't see Plush if she had her gloves on!!! Wat was she thinking running afta Plush!!! She never been n tha ring!!!", " Where still n 1st and I hope those crying birds injoy watching tha Crew in tha Playoffs!!! Aaaaahhhhh!!! ". The Cardinals would end up making the playoffs, beating the Brewers in the NLCS, and going on to win the World Series.
during his tenure with the Western Hockey League
's Regina Pats
. Morgan chose to relinquish custody of Niah in order to pursue his athletic career.
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...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
Morgan also played ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, reaching the Major Junior
Junior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
level with the Regina Pats
Regina Pats
The Regina Pats are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League. The Pats are based out of Regina, Saskatchewan and the Brandt Centre is their home arena.-History:...
of the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
in 1999–2000. Following that season, Morgan turned his focus exclusively to 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...
and was drafted by the Pirates in the 33rd round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
.
2007
On September 1, , Morgan made his major league debut for the Pirates against the Milwaukee Brewers2007 Milwaukee Brewers season
The 2007 Milwaukee Brewers season marked the 25th anniversary of the Milwaukee Brewers winning the American League Championship and the 50th anniversary of the Milwaukee Braves winning the World Series. During the offseason, the Brewers re-signed free agents Bill Hall and Chris Capuano...
as a late-season call-up. On September 14, 2007, Morgan made a catch in Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park is a ballpark in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States that opened in 2000 to house the Major League Baseball Houston Astros....
's center field that proved the difference in a 4–3 Pirates win. Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
manager Cecil Cooper
Cecil Cooper
Cecil Celester Cooper , nicknamed "Coop," is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball and the former manager of the Houston Astros. From through , Cooper played for the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers...
said of the catch "That's probably the best catch I've seen this year.". The catch garnered references to Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
' The Catch on SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
the following day. Morgan also showed his tools
Five-tool player
In baseball, a five-tool player is one who excels at hitting for average, hitting for power, baserunning skills and speed, throwing ability, and fielding abilities....
against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
on September 20, going 2 for 3 with a triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, two runs
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...
scored, two stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s, and an outfield assist throwing out Scott Hairston
Scott Hairston
Scott Alexander Hairston is an outfielder in Major League Baseball. Hairston bats and throws right-handed.-High school years:...
. Morgan's first home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
came September 25 against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
.
2008
Morgan was expected to make the 2008 roster as the Pirates' starting center fielderCenter fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
, but lost the position battle to Nate McLouth
Nate McLouth
Nathan Richard McLouth is a Major League Baseball player. Primarily a center fielder, McLouth bats from the left side and throws from the right. He is 5' 11" tall and weighs 185 pounds...
during spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. After a poor start to the season, he was optioned to the Triple-A affiliate Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
. Morgan made several appearances for the Pirates, but spent most of his season in Indianapolis until a productive September call up to the parent club.
2009
Morgan overcame an unimpressive spring training in 2009 to claim the job of starting left fielder. Building on his positive second half of 2008, he proved himself to be a defensively-gifted fan favorite, often referring to left field as "Morgantown".Although he stole 42 bases in 2009 (second in the league), he was caught 17 times—tied for the most in the majors.
Washington Nationals
On June 30, 2009, Morgan was traded to the Washington Nationals along with pitcher Sean BurnettSean Burnett
Sean Richard Burnett is a relief pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round in 2000 after leading Wellington High School to a 6A State Title in his senior year.Known for his change-up, remarkable control, presence,...
in exchange for outfielder Lastings Milledge
Lastings Milledge
Lastings Darnell Milledge is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He was the youngest player in the National League during the 2006 season.-Early life:Milledge was born in Bradenton, Florida...
and pitcher Joel Hanrahan
Joel Hanrahan
Joel Ryan Hanrahan , nicknamed The Hammer, is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Los Angeles Dodgers:...
. Morgan fractured his hand sliding into third base on August 27, 2009, and was placed on the 15-day disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
on August 28. In 2009, he was third in the league in steals (34), and led it in caught stealing (17).
On July 22, 2010, Morgan became the first Nationals player to steal three bases in one game.
Milwaukee Brewers
On March 27, 2011, Morgan was traded to the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in exchange for prospect Cutter Dykstra (son of baseball player Lenny Dykstra
Lenny Dykstra
Leonard Kyle "Lenny" Dykstra , nicknamed "Nails" and "Dude", is a former Major League Baseball center fielder. Dykstra played for the New York Mets during the late 1980s before playing for the Philadelphia Phillies during the early 1990s....
). Morgan fractured his middle finger in the 8th inning on a sacrifice bunt against Jonny Venters. After two separate stints on the disabled list, he joined Carlos Gomez
Carlos Gómez
Carlos Argelis Gómez Pena, nicknamed "Go-Go", is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers.-Minor leagues:...
in a platoon in center field with Gomez in the lineup versus left-handed pitchers and Morgan in the lineup versus righties. On June 8 against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, Nyjer hit his first walk-off with a double down the right field line at Miller Park
Miller Park
Miller Park is a ballpark located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is home to the Milwaukee Brewers and was completed in 2001 as a replacement for Milwaukee County Stadium. The park is located just southwest of the intersection of I-94, US-41, and Miller Park Way . The title sponsor is the Miller...
to win the game 7–6. After the game Morgan was interviewed and was very excited, claiming that he didn't even know it was a walkoff until he saw his teammates running out onto the field. On October 7, Morgan had a series-clinching walk-off base hit in the 10th inning of Game 5 of the NLDS against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. The Brewers won the game 3–2, giving the Brewers their first playoff series win since 1982.
In 2011, he batted .304 and was third in the NL in hit by pitch (14) and sacrifice hits (15).
Controversy
On May 23, 2010, Baltimore's Adam JonesAdam Jones (baseball)
Adam La Marque Jones is a Major League Baseball center fielder for the Baltimore Orioles. Jones was born and raised in San Diego, California where he starred at Samuel F. B. Morse High School. He was drafted in the first round of the 2003 draft by the Seattle Mariners...
hit a fly ball to center. Morgan dropped the ball and it caromed away. Instead of going after the ball, Morgan reacted by angrily throwing his glove to the ground and walked away as the ball rolled into left field. Before a teammate was able to retrieve it, Jones had circled the bases for an inside the park home run.
On September 7, 2011, Morgan created two posts on his twitter account mocking Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals "Alberta couldn't see Plush if she had her gloves on!!! Wat was she thinking running afta Plush!!! She never been n tha ring!!!", " Where still n 1st and I hope those crying birds injoy watching tha Crew in tha Playoffs!!! Aaaaahhhhh!!! ". The Cardinals would end up making the playoffs, beating the Brewers in the NLCS, and going on to win the World Series.
Personal life
Morgan frequently refers to himself as Tony Plush which he states is his "name on the field" or his "gentleman's name." Under his nickname, Morgan will occasionally make a hand signal to look like a "T" after reaching base. In 2011, Nyjer created his own Twitter account. With over 70,000 followers, Morgan often tweets after games using his catchphrase "AAAAAHHHH GOTTA GO!" He is the owner of an adopted cat named "Slick Willie." Morgan also has one daughter, Niah, who was born in Regina, SaskatchewanRegina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
during his tenure with the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
's Regina Pats
Regina Pats
The Regina Pats are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League. The Pats are based out of Regina, Saskatchewan and the Brandt Centre is their home arena.-History:...
. Morgan chose to relinquish custody of Niah in order to pursue his athletic career.
External links
- Profile at Yahoo! Sports