Major League Scouting Report: New York Yankees’ Cody Morris
www.forbes.com/sites/berniepleskoff/2024/01/09/major-league-scouting-report-new-york-yankees-cody-morris/?sh=7f59ad746f11The New York Yankees obtained right-handed pitcher Cody Morris in a December trade with the Cleveland Guardians.
In return, the Guardians received left-handed hitting outfielder, Estevan Florial, 26, from the Yankees.
To this writer, the transaction could be of consequential importance to both teams.
Florial has displayed power during his Yankees minor league development program. That power has not surfaced yet at the major league level.
The Guardians need power.
Morris, 27, has shown promise with a solid repertoire. However, he didn’t pitch much last season due to a strain in his teres major, a muscle below the shoulder.
The Yankees need pitching depth.
About Cody Morris:
At 6-4, 205 pounds, Morris is a formidable presence on the mound.
A 7th-round selection of the Cleveland Indians out of the University of South Carolina in the 2018 Major League Draft, Morris received a signing bonus of $186,000 from Cleveland.
Morris spent two years pitching for South Carolina. He went 11-7 with a 3.08 ERA in 66 games, covering 122.2 innings. He started 44 times and struck out an average of 12.3 hitters per nine innings.
Morris missed his freshman year at South Carolina due to Tommy John surgery.
Injuries have been part of Morris’ professional career. He suffered a shoulder strain in 2022, and then the recent teres major strain again last season.
To date, Morris has thrown 210.1 minor league innings.
Morris has appeared in 13 big league games for Cleveland, starting five times.
The Guardians did include Morris on their 2022 major league playoff roster.
Scouting Cody Morris:
To this old scout, prior to the trade, both Estevan Florial and Cody Morris represented outstanding risk/reward trade options.
Both Florial and Morris have upside remaining, but neither has seen sustained success at the big league level.
The Yankees may find Morris to be a very versatile pitching option. He can either work out of their rotation, or as part of their bullpen.
Morris has a very complete repertoire.
The focal point of Morris’ offerings is his four-seam fastball, which sits between 92-95 miles per hour. With little effort, he is capable of throwing 97 miles per hour.
Morris also features a changeup that tumbles and sinks as it reaches the plate. He throws that pitch at 82-85 miles per hour, using excellent, deceptive arm action and superb velocity differential from his fastball.
Morris is also refining a cutter, and a curveball. Both those pitches are above average. His cutter could become as important as his fastball and changeup as he gains more experience and even more confidence.
To this point in his career, Morris has shown good command and control of his pitches. He has enough confidence to use any pitch in his arsenal at any point in the count.
Morris has worked hard to repeat his delivery, staying within his capabilities and not trying to stray from his best pitch combination-his fastball/changeup.
It must be remembered that Cody Morris has not pitched more than 89 innings in any year as a professional.
He threw 89 innings in 2019, when he pitched for Cleveland’s Class-A, and Class-A Advanced teams.
Morris’ injury history is a concern.
The Yankees will have the opportunity to evaluate Morris in spring training.
Health may be the greatest issue surrounding Cody Morris.
If Morris comes to camp without shoulder pain, and if he can throw free and easy without compensating for pain in his delivery, New York may discover a very good potential starting pitcher.
In essence, like Estevan Florial, the player traded by the Yankees to the Guardians for Cody Morris, Morris has the potential to deliver great rewards. He’s a good, solid pitcher.
If Morris doesn’t initially make the big league roster out of spring training, the Yankees can use him in multiple roles as he continues his development in the Yankees farm system.
If he pitches in minor league baseball to start the season, New York can determine if they want to develop him as a starter or reliever. His repertoire indicates the capability and potential for success.
Big and strong, Cody Morris is a player on the cusp of graduating to the big league level. If he shows his shoulder is healthy. And if he can stay healthy.
To this scout, the trade between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians that sent Estevan Florial to Cleveland, and Cody Morris to New York is an excellent example of a good baseball trade.
While neither player has realized their potential, both players have a chance to demonstrate skill and realize potential at the big league level.
For both Florial and Morris, the risks are well worth the potential rewards.
Also the 5 inning rule! 
