In a program that often showcases the men playing amongst boys, Gareth Morgan is making an impression as a boy playing amongst men.
At just 14 years old, the outfielder from Toronto, Ont., is one of the youngest players to ever earn a spot on the Canadian national junior team, and at six-foot-three and 185 pounds, he hardly looks out of place despite his age.
His combination of size, skill and potential is already drawing the attention of scouts, even though he won’t be draft eligible until 2014.
“He has a chance to be a very special player,” says Greg Hamilton, Baseball Canada’s director of national teams. “(With his size) he looks like Jesse Barfield. He played right field throughout our Fall Instructional League schedule and did not look out of place against professional players. He projects to have plus power, a plus arm and runs well for a big man.”
That’s heady praise for a kid who won’t turn 15 until April 12, and there is little doubt that his development is being rapidly accelerated by his time in the junior program. Already he’s earned enough of the coaching staff’s confidence to merit some playing time in Friday’s exhibition game against a Toronto Blue Jays split squad in St. Petersburg, Fla.
He went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in Canada’s 9-0 loss.
Morgan has been making steady progress with the junior team since winning an invitation from Hamilton after Baseball Canada’s Mizuno Elite Development Camp for players aged 14-16 last September.
He held his own in the program’s tour of the Fall Instructional League – highlighted by clubbing a ground-rule double – and is doing the same so far for Canada at the St. Petersburg International Baseball series.
Still, he admits the pitching has given him some fits.
“It’s a little tough with the pitching but I’m trying to get used to it,” says Morgan. “The bantam speed is probably about 70, 75 and here it’s a 10, 15 mile difference with the fastballs. (Adjusting to it) is a little slow but it’s getting there.
“I think the experience is great. I’m not doing so well but I can’t say I’m doing terrible because I’m kind of young. I like the challenge.”
In Toronto, Morgan is a member of the North York Blues major bantam team, and this summer he’ll also play on the under-16 Toronto Mets club. He used to play hockey as well, but stopped last year because of the demands on his time and a desire to focus on baseball.
Asked if he sees a future for himself in the game, he replies: “I hope so, it’s my favourite sport.”
Defensively, he feels he’s doing just fine although the speed and power with which the balls come off the bat at this level has taken some getting used to. Coach Corey Eckstein of Abbotsford, B.C., is teaching him to get smarter reads off the bat, and to improve his footwork for better strength and accuracy on his throws from the outfield.
At the plate, hitting coach Hyung Cho is trying to get Morgan to stay back on the ball. Like many kids his age, he gets jumpy when he sees a fastball and is hoping to become more patient in the batter’s box.
Of course, that’s been less of an issue as the competition has improved.
“Back home I consider myself a power hitter, but here I’m just trying to make contact,” says Morgan, who’d like to model his game around that of his favourite player, Boston Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford. “I have a bit of speed, not that much, but it works. And my arm is pretty strong.”
Despite being the youngest player on a team predominantly made up of 17-year-olds, Morgan hasn’t had much trouble fitting in with his peers. He’s been hanging out with Michael Clouthier, a 15-year-old right-hander from Guelph, Ont., and isn’t afraid to engage in the back and forth ribbing that comes from his older teammates.
“I get chirped a little bit for being a younger guy,” he says, “but it’s cool.”
