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Atlanta Braves New Acquisition Scouting Report: Akeel Morris

By Benjamin Chase

Feb 22, 2016; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Akeel Morris (64) throws in the bullpen during spring training work out drills at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2016; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Akeel Morris (64) throws in the bullpen during spring training work out drills at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 22, 2016; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Akeel Morris (64) throws in the bullpen during spring training work out drills at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2016; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Akeel Morris (64) throws in the bullpen during spring training work out drills at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Braves Right Hander Akeel Morris

Who Is He?

Morris was drafted in the 10th round in 2010 by the Mets out of high school in Virginia. He was young for his draft class, and at 17, he went to the Mets GCL team. He pitched very well, with a 2.19 ERA in 24 2/3 innings, sporting a 17/28 BB/K ratio.

He was moved up to the advanced rookie league in 2011 and made 11 starts, compiling a 3.86 ERA in 51 1/3 innings, with a 38/61 BB/K ratio. The Mets chose to return him to Kingsport in 2012, and things were much different, as he threw 38 1/3 innings, sporting a 7.98 ERA, but he did have a 22/50 BB/K ratio.

Morris was injured the next season, and with the lack of breaking pitch development, the Mets moved him to the bullpen full-time as the 2013 season wore on. He pitched in low-A Brooklyn, pitching 45 innings with a sparkling 1.00 ERA and a 23/60 BB/K ratio.

2014 saw a bump to Savannah in the South Atlantic League, and Morris continued to dominate out of the bullpen, posting a 0.63 ERA for the entire season in 41 appearances, covering 57 innings, saving 16 games and sporting a 22/89 BB/K ratio.

Morris hopped two levels in 2015, starting at high-A St. Lucie, moving up to AA Binghamton, and finishing with a single forgettable appearance with the Mets. Overall, his 2015 minor league numbers were a 2.05 ERA over 47 appearances covering 61 1/3 innings, tallying a 29/81 BB/K ratio.

Morris started with Binghamton again this season, and he had a big blow up game that skewed his ERA to 4.62, but in 22 appearances spanning 25 1/3 innings, he still had a 16/36 BB/K ratio. The Mets then traded him to the Braves for Kelly Johnson, and he’s made two appearances for the Braves since without allowing a run in 2 2/3 innings, with a 3/3 BB/K ratio.

Next: Morris's scouting report

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