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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 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 during spring training work out drills at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Scouting Report

More from Tomahawk Take

Morris is 6’1 and 195 pounds, and he looks like that’s accurate. He’s got a fastball that runs up to 95-97 MPH when he’s going well, but he usually sits in the 93-94 until he really needs to reach back. His change up is tremendously good and plays up due to his arm slot. He has a slider that can look slurvy, but it is effective low in the zone. That said, it’s the fastball/change combo that’s the key for Morris out of the bullpen.

Morris pitches exclusively out of the stretch. He has a high, over-the-top release. He starts his motion with his hands drifting from his head to his belt, when he then kicks barely belt high and then lunges forward. He has a big leg kick follow through.

From that short motion to get to over the top and a big leg kick requires some tremendous force, but it also means that Morris misses his landing spot often as he pushes toward the plate, and, most troubling, he also struggles with his arm dragging behind his body some.

The arm drag could be an issue, especially with the change. I’d be worried about his arm health with that arm drag as well. The change has a very interesting effect coming from so far overhead as it just seems to stop in its progression toward the plate, the speed seems so off. His hand speed is perfectly matched to the fastball, and the spin difference is even tough to pick up watching multiple replays until you get a few feet out of his hand, and by that point, the batter doesn’t have the chance to adjust anymore.

Next: Future outlook

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