Mike Morse
Encyclopedia
Michael John Morse is a Major League Baseball
left fielder and first baseman for the Washington Nationals
.
in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft
.
and Jeremy Reed
for Freddy Garcia
and Ben Davis
on June 27, . Beginning the season with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers
, he made his major league debut on May 31, . Although Morse made it to the big leagues as a shortstop
, with the arrival of Yuniesky Betancourt
, Morse began to develop as a utility player, having spent time at first base and left field. In 2003, he was suspended for 10 days for using performance enhancing drugs.
On July 6, , Morse had surgery to repair a torn medial meniscus
of his right knee. In , Morse had the best batting average
in the major leagues in spring training
, batting .492. After playing only 5 games in 2008, Morse suffered a torn labrum diving for a ball against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
; he had surgery to repair it and missed the rest of the season.
. In June 2009, he was traded to the Washington Nationals
for outfielder Ryan Langerhans
. Morse was promoted to the majors by the Nats on August 21, 2009, after hitting .322 with 16 homers and 86 RBI in 110 minor league games.
In 2010 with the Nationals, Morse batted .289 with a .352 on-base percentage and a .519 slugging percentage, hitting 15 home runs and 41 RBIs over 98 games.
Morse followed his 2010 season with in 2011 spring training with a Grapefruit League-leading nine home runs with 18 RBI. He started the 2011 regular season in a left field platoon with Laynce Nix
, but slumped on offense and was relegated mostly to pinch hitting by May. However, On May 22, 2011, Morse moved to first base when Adam LaRoche
's season was ended by injury. In his first four games at first base, Morse hit three home runs with eight RBI. From May 22 to July 5, Morse had 13 home runs and 35 RBI, the most in the majors in that span of time, earning him consideration with four others for the National League
's final roster spot in the 2011 All-Star Game. Morse was named to Sports Illustrated
s "All-Underrated Team".
Morse finished the 2011 season with a .303 average, 31 home runs, and 95 RBI; he was in the top 10 in the National League in all three categories. He was fourth in the league in slugging percentage (.550), behind Ryan Braun
, Matt Kemp
, and Prince Fielder
.
. He has five brothers and sisters: Jamie, Kim, Shannon, Jon, and Chris Morse. Morse is engaged.
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...
left fielder and first baseman for the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
.
Professional career
Morse was selected by the Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft
2000 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Compensation picks:- Background :The Florida Marlins made Adrian Gonzalez of Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, CA the first overall selection in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft...
.
Seattle Mariners
Morse was acquired by the Mariners along with Miguel OlivoMiguel Olivo
Miguel Eduardo Olivo Peña is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Seattle Mariners. He bats and throws right-handed.-Career:...
and Jeremy Reed
Jeremy Reed
Jeremy Thomas Reed is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent.Reed graduated from Bonita High School in 1999, and went on to play college baseball at Long Beach State University...
for Freddy Garcia
Freddy García
Freddy Antonio García , nicknamed "The Chief", is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who is currently a free agent...
and Ben Davis
Ben Davis (baseball)
Mark Christopher "Ben" Davis is a former Major League Baseball catcher. Davis began his career as a promising catcher, but converted to a pitcher in...
on June 27, . Beginning the season with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
, he made his major league debut on May 31, . Although Morse made it to the big leagues as a shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, with the arrival of Yuniesky Betancourt
Yuniesky Betancourt
Yuniesky Betancourt is a Major League Baseball shortstop. He resides in Boca Raton, Florida.-Cuban leagues:...
, Morse began to develop as a utility player, having spent time at first base and left field. In 2003, he was suspended for 10 days for using performance enhancing drugs.
On July 6, , Morse had surgery to repair a torn medial meniscus
Medial meniscus
-External links: *...
of his right knee. In , Morse had the best batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
in the major leagues in 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...
, batting .492. After playing only 5 games in 2008, Morse suffered a torn labrum diving for a ball against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
; he had surgery to repair it and missed the rest of the season.
Washington Nationals
On April 1, , Morse cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Mariners' AAA club, TacomaTacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
. In June 2009, he was traded to the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
for outfielder Ryan Langerhans
Ryan Langerhans
Ryan David Langerhans is an American Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Langerhans was drafted in the third round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft by the Atlanta Braves...
. Morse was promoted to the majors by the Nats on August 21, 2009, after hitting .322 with 16 homers and 86 RBI in 110 minor league games.
In 2010 with the Nationals, Morse batted .289 with a .352 on-base percentage and a .519 slugging percentage, hitting 15 home runs and 41 RBIs over 98 games.
Morse followed his 2010 season with in 2011 spring training with a Grapefruit League-leading nine home runs with 18 RBI. He started the 2011 regular season in a left field platoon with Laynce Nix
Laynce Nix
Laynce Michael Nix is a Major League Baseball outfielder. Nix plays all three outfield positions, but plays most of his games at left field. His younger brother is Jayson Nix, a utility player for the Toronto Blue Jays....
, but slumped on offense and was relegated mostly to pinch hitting by May. However, On May 22, 2011, Morse moved to first base when Adam LaRoche
Adam LaRoche
David Adam LaRoche , is a Major League Baseball first baseman. In 2011, the Washington Nationals signed him to a two-year deal...
's season was ended by injury. In his first four games at first base, Morse hit three home runs with eight RBI. From May 22 to July 5, Morse had 13 home runs and 35 RBI, the most in the majors in that span of time, earning him consideration with four others for the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
's final roster spot in the 2011 All-Star Game. Morse was named to Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
s "All-Underrated Team".
Morse finished the 2011 season with a .303 average, 31 home runs, and 95 RBI; he was in the top 10 in the National League in all three categories. He was fourth in the league in slugging percentage (.550), behind Ryan Braun
Ryan Braun
Ryan Joseph Braun is an American right-handed Major League Baseball left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. A perennial standout, he was ranked No...
, Matt Kemp
Matt Kemp
Matthew Ryan "Matt" Kemp is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers.Kemp was drafted by the Dodgers in the 6th round of the 2003 draft and made his major league debut in 2006...
, and Prince Fielder
Prince Fielder
Prince Semien Fielder is a Major League Baseball free agent who plays first base. He is currently listed at 5' 11" and . He was selected by the Brewers in the first round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft out of Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Florida.He is the son of former Detroit...
.
Personal life
Morse has family in Dover, New HampshireDover, New Hampshire
Dover is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, in the United States of America. The population was 29,987 at the 2010 census, the largest in the New Hampshire Seacoast region...
. He has five brothers and sisters: Jamie, Kim, Shannon, Jon, and Chris Morse. Morse is engaged.