Christopher Morel
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2024Antiques10742446855827220331361100.2000.2580.415
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MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jun 18 2025Morel went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 12-8 win over Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Although the righty-hitting Morel has fallen into a short-side platoon with the switch-hitting Jake Mangum in left field, the former has been highly effective in this role of late. Morel has just 39 plate appearances over his last 15 outings, but he's slashing .297/.333/.595 with two home runs, five doubles, six RBI and seven runs scored during this period. Morel has a .772 OPS versus righties as opposed to a .597 OPS against lefties, so perhaps manager Kevin Cash will consider finding ways to get Morel's bat into the lineup more often if he stays hot.
Jun 8 2025Morel went 3-for-3 with a double, two homers, three runs scored and four RBI during Saturday's 11-10 loss to the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Getting a start against lefty Ryan Weathers (head/arm), Morel accounted for 10 total bases in only three at-bats before being replaced for defensive reasons by Josh Lowe in the top of the eighth inning. Morel's two home runs brought his season total up to five, and his four RBI represented his first in 23 games.
May 11 2025Morel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 25-year-old made three straight starts Wednesday through Friday while the Rays faced off against left-handed pitchers, but he'll be on the bench Sunday for the second day in a row against Chad Patrick. Morel appears to have fallen into a short-side platoon role, and his chances of regaining steady playing time don't appear to be strong with the Rays expected to get Josh Lowe (oblique) back from the injured list during the upcoming week.
May 4 2025Morel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel went 2-for-7 over the first two games of the series while making a pair of starts in left field against left-handed starters Max Fried and Ryan Yarbrough, but he'll retreat to the bench for the finale with right-hander Will Warren toeing the rubber for New York. Though the right-handed-hitting Morel should still see at least semi-regular playing time against right-handed pitching, he could be at risk of moving into more of a pure platoon role once one or more of Josh Lowe (oblique), Jake Mangum (groin) and Jonny DeLuca (shoulder) return from the injured list.
May 1 2025Morel is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel was in the lineup for the first two games of the series, going hitless in seven trips to the dish. He'll take a seat in Thursday's series finale as Travis Jankowski mans left field for the Rays.
Apr 19 2025Morel isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Friday's series opener, Morel will take a seat while Kameron Misner, Chandler Simpson and Jake Mangum start across Tampa Bay's outfield Saturday.
Apr 17 2025Morel isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel will get a chance to catch his breath Thursday after making 10 consecutive starts, during which he slashed .289/.341/.447 over 41 plate appearances. His absence will give Richie Palacios (finger) a chance to make his season debut in left field after spending the first several weeks of the season on the injured list.
Apr 14 2025Morel went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI in Monday's 16-1 win versus Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 25-year-old fueled the Rays' lineup and produced his second three-hit performance in the past four games. Morel has been a full-time player for the Rays since Jonny DeLuca (shoulder) last appeared on April 6. Morel has made the most of the opportunity, starting eight consecutive games and batting .323 (10-for-31) with a homer, three doubles, five RBI and five runs scored.
Apr 11 2025Morel went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and another run scored in Friday's 6-3 win over Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel registered his first moonshot of the season when he took Bryce Elder deep for a 387-foot solo homer to left field in the sixth frame to give the Rays a three-run lead. It was Morel's second multi-hit game of the year, and he's logged a hit in five of his last seven outings, during which he's gone 7-for-23 with four runs scored, two walks, one home run and two RBI.
Apr 5 2025Morel isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rangers, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Friday's series opener, but he'll continue to concede playing time to the white-hot Jake Mangum, who's set to start in left field Saturday and bat eighth.
Apr 2 2025Morel is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Pirates, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel has now been absent from the lineup for two straight games and three of the last four contests. The hot-hitting Jake Mangum will start in left field and bat third for the Rays on Wednesday.
Apr 1 2025Morel is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Pirates, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel has gone 3-for-9 with two walks, an RBI, two runs and four strikeouts through four games this season and will sit Tuesday against Pittsburgh righty Thomas Harrington. Kameron Misner and Jake Mangum will start in left and right field, respectively.
Mar 30 2025Morel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel went 2-for-4 with two walks and a run scored in the first two games of the series but will take a seat for Sunday's contest. Kameron Misner will start in left field and bat sixth in the series finale versus Colorado.
Mar 29 2025Morel went 2-for-2 with two walks Saturday against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel had only a.547 OPS across 190 plate appearances with the Rays in 2024, putting his playing time in doubt entering the new campaign. He's started both of the Rays' games to this point, though a prolonged slump could put his plate appearances in jeopardy.
Feb 3 2025Morel is projected to begin the 2025 season as the Rays' starting left fielder, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel was dealt to the Rays in late July and subsequently started 31 games. Only 11 of those came in left field as compared to 20 at third base. However, with Junior Caminero all but certain to be a mainstay at the hot corner, Morel will be forced to a new defensive home. He could also face some pressure for playing time from Richie Palacios or even Eloy Jimenez if he cannot improve upon the .547 OPS that he posted across 190 plate appearances with the team in 2024.
Sep 27 2024Morel is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After making three straight starts (two in left field, one at DH), Morel will get a night off. Richie Palacios, Jonny DeLuca and Josh Lowe fill the outfield while Brandon Lowe DHs.
Sep 22 2024Morel is not in the lineup for Sunday's contest against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Dylan Carlson will patrol left field and bat leadoff for the Rays. The Blue Jays are using a right-handed opener in Ryan Burr and are then expected to turn to lefty Ryan Yarbrough in bulk relief, so Morel is a candidate to enter mid-game.
Sep 19 2024Morel is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel had started the last two games after missing the two contests prior to that with a sore Achilles. His absence from the lineup Thursday appears to be a routine day off. Most of Morel's playing time lately has come in left field, but Dylan Carlson will handle that spot for the Rays on Thursday.
Sep 17 2024Morel (Achilles) will start in left field and bat fifth in Tuesday's game versus the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel missed each of the last two contests with right Achilles discomfort, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go as the Rays open a series against the Red Sox. Each of Morel's last three starts have been in left field after he had previously only played second base since joining Tampa Bay.
Sep 15 2024Morel (Achilles) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's the second straight game on the bench for Morel after he exited Friday's contest due to right Achilles discomfort. He'll also have Monday's team off day to help in his recovery before Tuesday's series opener versus Boston.
Sep 14 2024Morel (Achilles) is not in Saturday's lineup against Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel was forced to exit Friday's game after suffering a leg injury while running the bases. The injury isn't believed to be serious, but Morel will get at least one more day to rest.
Sep 13 2024Morel was removed from Friday's game versus Cleveland due to right Achilles discomfort, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel appeared to tweak his lower leg while turning back to first base after hitting a single in the third inning, and he ended up getting pulled for a pinch runner. The severity of his injury remains unknown, though it's possible the Rays give him a day or two off in order to properly recover.
Sep 11 2024Morel went 2-for-5 with a double, a triple and an RBI on Tuesday against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel got off to a slow start with the Rays but has managed at least one hit in 13 of his last 20 games. He's still lacked power in that span (.368 slugging percentage), so Tuesday's effort was an encouraging sign.
Sep 7 2024Morel isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Despite recording a base hit in six of his last seven games, Morel will now sit down for the third time in Tampa Bay's last four contests. Yandy Diaz will instead serve as the Rays' DH while Austin Shenton starts at first base and bats ninth.
Sep 6 2024Morel is not in Friday's lineup against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This is only Morel's second time out of the lineup in the last 10 games, even though he is hitting .191 with 42 strikeouts and three home runs in 31 games since getting traded to Tampa Bay. Jose Caballero draws the start at second base while Taylor Walls mans shortstop.
Sep 4 2024Morel is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's a routine day off for Morel, who had started each of the previous eight tilts. Brandon Lowe will cover second base and Junior Caminero will be in the designated hitter slot for the Rays.
Aug 31 2024Morel went 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored Saturday against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel led off for the first time as a Ray, stepping into the role in the absence of Yandy Diaz (knee). Morel played a key role in rallies in the second and fourth innings, giving him at least one hit in seven of his last 10 starts. In that span, he's gone 10-for-39 with a 38 percent strikeout rate, though he's still managed three RBI and six runs scored.
Aug 25 2024Morel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel posted a .907 OPS while starting the past seven games but will sit for Sunday's series finale in Los Angeles. Yandy Diaz will receive a turn at designated hitter while Brandon Lowe shifts to first base and Jose Caballero starts at second.
Aug 23 2024Morel went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 7-3 loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel has four multi-hit efforts over his last seven games. His homer Friday was his first in all of August, and he's batting a meager .176 (12-for-68) over 18 contests this month. Morel is still getting steady playing time since he was traded form the Cubs, but he's yet to do much with it. For the season, he has a .196/.298/.363 slash line with 21 homers, 55 RBI, 51 runs scored and eight stolen bases over 123 games.
Aug 18 2024Morel is absent from Sunday's lineup against Arizona, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel will begin the contest in the dugout after going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in Saturday's 6-1 win over Arizona. He has struggled from the plate since the All-Star break and has slashed .128/.244/.205 with two home runs, three RBI and a 32.2 percent strikeout rate across 88 plate appearances over that span. Brandon Lowe will take over DH duties for the series finale.
Aug 4 2024Morel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel went deep in his first two games after being acquired by Tampa Bay, but he'll sit Sunday after going 0-for-5 with three walks and four strikeouts in his past two contests. Josh Lowe will serve as the designated hitter in the series finale at Houston while Dylan Carlson starts in right field.
Jul 31 2024Morel went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored during Tuesday's 9-3 win over the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel went yard in his second at-bat as a Ray, tagging Edward Cabrera for a solo homer in the fourth inning. Morel drew the start at second base Tuesday, his first time playing the position this season after working as a third baseman and DH for the Cubs. Tuesday's homer was Morel's 19th of the season, and he's slashing .199/.303/.380 with 52 RBI and 45 runs across 426 plate appearances.
Jul 28 2024The Rays acquired Morel and prospects Hunter Bigge and Ty Johnson in exchange for Isaac Paredes on Sunday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel went 0-for-1 in Sunday's game at Kansas City before being pulled due to the trade. The 25-year-old has a .199/.302/.373 slash line with 18 homers and a 47:102 BB:K in 421 plate appearances this season. Morel's role in Tampa Bay should be similar to the one he had in Chicago, splitting time between third base and designated hitter.
Jul 26 2024Morel isn't in the Cubs' lineup for Friday's game against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel will get a day to clear his head Friday after going 0-for-6 with four strikeouts during Chicago's previous series against the Brewers. Miles Mastrobuoni will start at the hot corner instead while batting seventh.
Jul 14 2024Morel went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel hit a two-run blast in the sixth inning and a solo shot in the eighth to pad the Cubs' lead in the contest. This was his first multi-hit effort since June 22, though he's hit safely in 10 of 12 games in July, batting .229 (11-for-48) for the month. Overall, Morel has 18 long balls, 50 RBI, 42 runs scored and seven stolen bases through 96 contests, though he's slashing a light .202/.303/.387 on the year.
Jul 10 2024Morel went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel launched his 16th home run of the season in the second inning against All-Star Corbin Burnes. While the 25-year-old continues to hit for power, he's not doing much else at the plate, as he's batting just .200 on the season. Morel has fantasy upside due to his pop, though fantasy managers will have to endure the low batting average.
Jul 6 2024Morel isn't in the Cubs' lineup Saturday against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel has put together a three-game hitting streak, though he has also struck out six times in 12 at-bats over that span. He'll take a day to rest Saturday while David Bote fills in at third base, batting eighth.
Jun 23 2024Morel went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel provided all of Chicago's offense with his 15th home run of the season in the seventh inning. The 24-year-old has hit 15 or more homers in each of his three MLB seasons to date, including a career high 26 long balls last year in 107 games. Assuming he stays healthy, Morel could surpass that figure in 2024 as the team is still a few games shy of the season's midpoint.
Jun 22 2024Morel went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 8-1 win over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel hit an RBI single in the first inning then crushed a 446-foot solo home run in the third. Morel's .209 average so far in June is actually his highest of any month this season, and the homer was his fourth in 19 June games. The 24-year-old is hitting just .202 to date but does have 14 home runs and 43 RBI over 267 at-bats in 2024.
Jun 18 2024Morel is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel has only one hit over his last five games and tough right-hander Logan Webb will take the ball Tuesday for San Francisco, so it's a sensible spot for a day off. David Bote is getting the call at third base while Morel regroups.
Jun 11 2024Morel went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel connected for this third home run of the month and 13th of the season in the fourth inning. The 24-year-old is now halfway to his long ball total from last year through 66 games. Morel only needed 107 contests to record those 26 homers in 2023, but he seems primed to play more games this season if he stays healthy, and that could result in a new career best in the power department.
Jun 6 2024Morel went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in Thursday's 8-4 loss to the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel can be streaky with his power production, but he appears to be locked in right now, as he has two home runs across his last three games and three bombs in his last seven contests. The surge has pushed him up to 12 long balls for the season. Morel popped 26 home runs last year, and he certainly could reach or surpass that figure in 2024 if he stays healthy.
Jun 5 2024Manager Craig Counsell said after Wednesday's game versus the White Sox that he believes Morel will be fine after he fouled a ball off his left foot, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel had to leave Wednesday's contest because of his foot, and although he never received an X-ray, the Cubs are confident he escaped the incident without any severe damage. There's a chance Morel sits out a game or two in order to recover from any lingering soreness, but a trip to the injured list shouldn't be necessary.
Jun 4 2024Morel went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 7-6 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel launched his 11th home run of the season and second in the last five games in the sixth inning to spark the Cubs' comeback victory. The 24-year-old has been a bit all or nothing this year, as he's batting just .201; however, his power potential alone should keep him in Chicago's lineup most days and gives him fantasy upside, which he flashed last season with 26 long balls in only 388 at-bats.
May 19 2024Morel went 1-for-3 with an RBI in Saturday's 1-0 win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel's line drive to center in the bottom of the ninth inning brought in Cody Bellinger with the game-winning run. It was a nice effort for Morel, who's been productive this month despite batting just .220 in May. The production has come mostly in the power department, as the 24-year-old has five home runs this month across 17 games. Morel came into May with four long balls over his first 29 contests.
May 14 2024Morel (toe) will start at designated hitter and bat cleanup in Tuesday's game in Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel had to exit Monday's contest after fouling a ball off his left foot, but he's fine. It's his first start at DH in more than a week, which will free up third base for Patrick Wisdom on Tuesday.
May 13 2024Morel left Monday's game against Atlanta after fouling a ball off his left foot, and he's been diagnosed with a left toe injury, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel is reportedly dealing with bumps and bruises, per Lee, so this appears to be a day-to-day type of injury. The Cubs should know more about his availability for the rest of the week after re-evaluating him Tuesday.
May 12 2024Morel (knee) will start at third base and bat cleanup Sunday against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel exited in the fifth inning of Saturday's 10-9 loss to Pittsburgh with right knee soreness after he appeared to get hurt on a stolen base attempt in the top of the third. The injury looks to be a minor one, however, given that the 24-year-old is back in the lineup a day later. Morel has gone 8-for-34 with four home runs, 11 RBI and two stolen bases in May.
May 11 2024Morel was removed from Saturday's game versus the Pirates in the fifth inning with right knee soreness, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel looked to hurt the knee on a stolen base attempt in the top of the third inning. He remained in the game initially but was removed for a pinch-hitter following a rain delay. The Cubs could have more on Morel's condition after the game.
May 6 2024Morel went 1-for-5 with a two-run homer, a walk and a steal in Monday's loss to the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel put the Cubs on the board with his two-run shot in the sixth inning after snagging a steal earlier in the contest. He has five hits over his last five games and four of them have left the yard. The 24-year-old is slashing .220/.315/.449 with 12 extra-base hits (eight home runs), four stolen bases and 23 RBI through 35 games this season.
May 3 2024Morel went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 3-1 loss to the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel snapped a scoreless tie with two outs in the sixth inning, launching a solo shot to centerfield off Joe Ross to put the Cubs ahead 1-0. Morel now has homers in back-to-back games and three in his last five contests following a span of 16 games without a long ball. The 24-year-old third baseman is now slashing .210/.286/.403 through 133 plate appearances this year with six homers, 18 RBI, 19 runs scored and three stolen bases.
Apr 30 2024Morel went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The steal was his second of the season, and both pilfers have come in his last eight contests. Morel is struggling to get going with his bat however, and through 29 games he's slashing a meager .215/.292/.374 with four homers, 14 RBI and 17 runs.
Apr 29 2024Morel went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Monday's 3-1 win over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel was hitless until the ninth inning, when he delivered a two-out home run with a runner on against New York closer Edwin Diaz to break open a 1-1 tie. The key blast was Morel's fourth of the season and first since April 9. He's not off to as fast of a start as he had last year, but the 24-year-old can heat up in a hurry, and perhaps this effort will provide the spark.
Apr 28 2024Morel (hip) is starting at third base and batting cleanup Sunday against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 24-year-old collided with Alexander Canario after making a running catch in the outfield Saturday but is apparently no worse for wear. Morel fell into a 1-for-32 slump over nine contests in mid-May, but his bat has come alive over his past six games with a .781 OPS.
Apr 27 2024Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Morel "is fine" after exiting Saturday's game versus the Red Sox after the seventh inning following a fall in the outfield, CHGO Cubs reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel toppled over left fielder Alexander Canario after making a running catch and landed hard on the ground, banging up his elbows and right hip. He looked to be in some pain and was removed from the game at that point. However, it sounds like he probably would've remained in if the score hadn't been so lopsided. It's possible the Cubs will hold Morel out Sunday if he's still a bit sore, but it does not appear fantasy managers need to have any real worry about his status.
Apr 25 2024Morel is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs will hand Morel his first day off of the season while he's fallen into a slump at the dish of late; he's gone 4-for-45 (.089 average) and is getting on base at a .222 clip over his last 13 games. Morel still looks to be entrenched in an everyday role at third base, but Nick Madrigal will occupy the hot corner Thursday.
Apr 10 2024Morel went 2-for-4 with a grand slam during Tuesday's 5-1 win over San Diego. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel launched his third homer of 2024 on Tuesday, tagging reliever Stephen Kolek for the grand slam on Kolek's first pitch out of the bullpen. The long ball was Morel's first grand slam of his career. He's now logged a hit in 10 of his 11 games this season and is slashing .326/.370/.605 with an excellent 10.9 percent strikeout rate across 46 plate appearances.
Apr 2 2024Morel went 1-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run and two runs scored in Tuesday's 12-2 win over the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel went deep in the third inning as the Cubs piled on in the easy win. The 24-year-old now has two long balls across five games to go along with a robust 1.171 OPS. Whether he's playing at third base or serving as the DH, Morel will be in the lineup most days due to his powerful bat, and fantasy managers should reap the rewards.
Apr 1 2024Morel went 2-for-3 with a run scored during Monday's 5-0 victory over the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Despite the modest stat line, Morel's sixth-inning single with two-men on was the impetus for the Cubs' victory as a misplay by left-fielder Nolan Jones saw the ball roll all the way to the wall and allowed both runners to score. Jones then added a throwing error on the same play that allowed Morel to complete the little-league home run. Unfortunately, Morel did not get credited with an RBI on the play but it's been a solid start to the season for the Cubs' third-baseman. Through four games he's collected seven hits in 17 at-bats with a homer, three RBI and four runs scored.
Mar 31 2024Morel went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Sunday's 9-5 win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel got the show started for the Cubs, clubbing a three-run homer off of starter Jon Gray in the top of the first inning, giving Chicago an early 3-0 lead. The 24-year-old has opened the season red-hot, going 5-for-14 with a homer, a triple, three RBI and three runs scored.
Mar 28 2024Morel went 2-for-5 with a triple and a run scored in Thursday's 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel had a good game but almost had a great game, as he narrowly missed a grand slam on a long foul ball in the top of the 10th inning with the contest tied 3-3. The 24-year-old batted cleanup and he should have the opportunity to post strong numbers this season from the middle of Chicago's lineup, particularly in the power department.
Mar 4 2024Cubs manager Craig Counsell said in an interview on MLB Network Radio on Monday that while he's been pleased with Morel's defensive work, the third base job is "not going to be solved in spring training." ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel is going to get an extended look at the hot corner and may very well be the long-term answer there, but Counsell doesn't plan to make that decision based on what happens in spring training. Worth noting is that Morel's chief competitors at the hot corner, Nick Madrigal (leg) and Patrick Wisdom (quad), are both banged up. Ultimately, Morel figures to garner plenty of at-bats, whether that's mostly at third base, designated hitter or bouncing around to many positions.
Feb 24 2024Morel went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's Cactus League game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel started at third base, which is where he's slated to see most of his playing time, at least in the early going. The 24-year-old got off to a flying start in the power department last season and now has his spring campaign started on the right foot as well. If Morel sees regular time at the hot corner and can build on the positives from his 2023 campaign, a big 2024 could be in store.
Feb 17 2024Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that he wants Morel to concentrate on playing third base to begin spring training, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Counsell remains open to Morel's role changing over time but emphasized giving Morel consistency from the beginning of camp. Morel played just five games at third base last season, with most of his starts coming between DH, the outfield and second base. A move to third base for Morel would likely spell fewer at-bats for Nick Madrigal while opening the door for Matt Mervis or Michael Busch to see opportunities at DH.
Jan 15 2024Cubs manager Craig Counsell and general manager Carter Hawkins indicated Saturday that Morel will likely continue to be used in a super utility role rather than focusing on one position, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel has made starts at every position other than first base and catcher during his two seasons in the majors, and he began working out at the former position during winter ball. The 24-year-old hasn't been able to master any spot yet and was used almost exclusively at designated hitter in the second half. As things currently stand, the Cubs would seem to have openings in center field and at third base (as well as DH), positions Morel has played plenty. However, the club doesn't appear anxious to keep Morel at one spot. The good news is Morel's bat should still be in the lineup plenty. He slashed .247/.313/.508 with 26 home runs over 107 games in 2023.
Nov 8 2023Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Wednesday that Morel will play first base in winter ball, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel has never appeared in a game at first base at any level of professional ball, but the Cubs are hoping that he might take well to the position and be an option for them there in 2024. The 24-year-old was primarily used at designated hitter down the stretch in 2023 because his defense anywhere in the field proved to be too unreliable.
Oct 1 2023Morel went 2-for-5 with a double, a solo home run and two runs scored in Saturday's win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Following up his 16-homer season as a rookie in 2022, Morel now has 26 home runs this year, and he's also boosted his batting average and OPS in his second MLB campaign. The 24-year-old has struck out more than 30% of the time in each of his first two seasons, however, which is something fantasy managers will want to see him improve upon moving forward.
Sep 30 2023Morel went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a triple and a run scored in Friday's loss to the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel was productive from the No. 8 spot in the lineup, but the Cubs as a whole mustered only six hits and three runs in the defeat. The 24-year-old has recorded 44 extra-base hits among his 92 total hits this year, including 25 home runs, boosting his OPS to a solid .809. He should have a few more chances to contribute before the regular season wraps up.
Sep 28 2023Morel is absent from the lineup Thursday at Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Jeimer Candelario will serve as the Cubs' designated hitter with Miles Mastrobuoni playing third base. Morel, who also sat Wednesday, has gone 3-for-26 (.115) with seven strikeouts over his last seven games.
Sep 27 2023Morel is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel will sit Wednesday while stuck in a 3-for-26 slump, though he did hit two solo homers during that stretch. Jeimer Candelario (back) is starting at first base in his return from the injured list while Miles Mastrobuoni mans the hot corner.
Sep 24 2023Morel went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's win over the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel is now up to 25 home runs this season, and he's been on a bit of a power surge recently, with five long balls over his last 11 games. However, the 24-year-old is batting just .217 during the stretch, which shows that he's often a boom or bust option in fantasy. Morel will need to cut down his strikeout rate, which is currently 31.4 percent, if he wants to make more consistent contact at the plate moving forward.
Sep 22 2023Morel is not in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel had started each of the last 10 games and homered four times during that span, but he'll take a seat for this one as the Cubs open up a weekend series against Colorado. Jared Young is in the designated hitter spot.
Sep 20 2023Morel went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 13-7 loss to the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel is now up to 24 home runs after hitting 16 long balls as a rookie last season. While it's a solid total, the 24-year-old did hit nine of them in his first 12 games of the year. Since then, Morel has 15 home runs in 89 games. For fantasy purposes, the youngster has been a good player to use during a hot streak, though he's still looking for more consistency at the plate, and he'll need to cut down on the strikeouts moving forward.
Sep 15 2023Morel went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 6-4 loss to the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel has homered four times over his last eight games, adding seven RBI in that span. The 24-year-old's gotten back into form over the last week or so, which has in turn helped him stay in the lineup more regularly -- though the Cubs have also faced southpaws in three of their last five games. For the year, Morel is slashing .248/.312/.504 with 23 homers, 67 RBI, 55 runs scored and four stolen bases over 96 games.
Sep 12 2023Morel went 1-for-5 with a solo home run Monday in a 5-4 win against Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel connected for a mammoth 466-foot solo shot in the fifth inning to give the Cubs their first lead. It was the second straight game with a long ball for the slugger, and he's up to 22 homers over 365 plate appearances on the season. Morel isn't an everyday player due in part to his 32.1 percent strikeout rate, but he's a constant power threat when he's in the lineup as suggested by his 15.04 AB/HR.
Sep 10 2023Morel went 2-for-4 with a triple and a solo home run in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel served as the DH and batted first, and he had a big impact on the game, launching his 21st home run of the season in the third inning. He also added just his second triple of the year. Morel had seen a dip in playing time recently, but with Jeimer Candelario (back) departing Sunday's contest early, there could be a bigger role available for the former in the near future.
Sep 8 2023Morel is out of the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel had started the last two games after being out of the lineup for the three prior contests. The Cubs are utilizing Mike Tauchman in the designated hitter spot Friday, with Cody Bellinger playing center field and Jeimer Candelario covering first base.
Sep 5 2023Morel went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's 11-8 win over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel entered the game as a pinch hitter in the third inning and made his mark in the seventh, hitting his 20th home run of the season with two runners on as the Cubs rallied for six runs in the frame. The 24-year-old has been out of the starting lineup the past three days, so he may have lost his grip on an everyday role, though he can still do some damage off the bench. Of course, fantasy managers would rather see Morel starting.
Sep 4 2023Morel is not in the lineup for Monday's contest versus the Giants, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel has now been on the bench for two straight after starting each of the previous three contests. Cody Bellinger is being used at designated hitter Monday.
Sep 3 2023Morel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel had served as Chicago's designated hitter for each of the past three games, but he went just 1-for-7 at the dish in those games to bring his slash line to .148/.225/.309 since the beginning of August. With Morel unable to take advantage of his brief return to the everyday lineup, he appears set to move back into a utility role for the final month of the season.
Aug 27 2023Morel is not in the lineup Sunday against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ian Happ, Mike Tauchman and Seiya Suzuki will start across the outfield as Cody Bellinger takes a turn as the Cubs' designated hitter. Morel hit a double Saturday at Pittsburgh but is slashing just .117/.209/.250 over his last 67 plate appearances dating back to Aug. 3. He now finds himself on the bench for the fourth time in five games and may be moving into more of a part-time role.
Aug 25 2023Morel isn't in the Cubs' lineup Friday against Pittsburgh. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Friday marks the fourth time Morel has been held out of the lineup in the Cubs' last five games as he continues to slump at the plate. Jeimer Candelario will serve as Chicago's designated hitter in Morel's absence while Nick Madrigal starts at third base.
Aug 24 2023Morel is not in the lineup Thursday versus the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's his second straight absence from the Cubs' starting lineup, though Morel did single as a pinch hitter Wednesday in Detroit. The 24-year-old is slashing just .107/.206/.232 over his last 63 plate appearances dating back to Aug. 3.
Aug 23 2023Morel is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel will head to the bench for the second time in the series, perhaps suggesting that his status as an everyday player for the Cubs is on shaky ground. Though he hasn't been a complete zero for fantasy purposes with three home runs and 11 RBI in 18 games on the month, Morel has scored just five runs and hasn't stolen a base in August while batting a lowly .123. Rather than leaning on Morel as the Cubs' primary designated hitter, manager David Ross could consider rotating a number of position players at that lineup spot.
Aug 21 2023Morel is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Nick Madrigal will enter the lineup at third base and serve as the de facto replacement for Morel, who had served as the Cubs' designated hitter for each of the past 13 games. Morel went just 2-for-23 with eight strikeouts in the last six of those contests, however, so manager David Ross may just be giving the 24-year-old a mental break Monday.
Aug 16 2023Morel went 2-for-4 with a walkoff, three-run home run in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel picked a great time for his 19th home run of the season, taking Gregory Santos deep with two runners on in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the game for the Cubs. The 24-year-old has slowed down since hitting nine home runs in his first 12 games of the year, but he's still been a solid source of power for his team and fantasy managers. Morel hasn't run as much this season, however, stealing only four bases so far after swiping 10 as a rookie in 2022.
Aug 9 2023Morel went 1-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel started the game with a leadoff home run but didn't do much from there, striking out two times in his other three at-bats. Fantasy managers will still take the effort from the 24-year-old, who's been solid this year with 18 home runs in just 72 games after hitting 16 home runs across 113 games as a rookie in 2022. He's got two of those long balls in nine games this month, though he's also only batting .167 in August.
Aug 4 2023Morel is out of the lineup Friday against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel will get a breather after starting six straight games between DH and left field. The high-energy 24-year-old is slashing .350/.409/.600 with two homers, four doubles, 10 RBI, two stolen bases and nine runs scored over his last 10 games.
Aug 2 2023Morel went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and three RBI in Wednesday's 16-6 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel hit a two-run shot in the third inning, his 17th home run of the season, and added another RBI on his 12th double. Despite the Cubs' acquisition of Jeimer Candelario at the trade deadline, Morel has stuck in the lineup, serving as the designated hitter each of the last two nights. With Candelario slotting in at first base, Cody Bellinger figures to play mostly in center, with Mike Tauchman also in the mix. Morel's playing time should be secure if he keeps delivering at the plate like he's done all season long.
Jul 28 2023Morel went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored in Thursday's 10-3 victory over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel extended Chicago's lead to 3-0 in the first inning with a two-run double, extending his hit streak to five games. He's gone 14-for-41 (.341) with 10 RBI and an .877 OPS in 12 games since the All-Star break. Overall, Morel is slashing .281/.343/.891 with 16 homers, 48 RBI, 44 runs scored and four steals through 246 plate appearances this season.
Jul 28 2023Morel isn't in the Cubs' lineup Friday versus the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel will get a breather Friday after putting together a five-game hitting streak, during which he's gone 8-for-20 with a homer, six RBI and six runs scored. Yan Gomes will take over as Chicago's designated hitter, allowing Miguel Amaya to start behind the plate and bat ninth.
Jul 25 2023Morel went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel went deep in the second inning against Michael Kopech, one of four home runs in the contest for the Cubs. The 24-year-old continues to display good power, as he now has an .877 OPS and 16 long balls in 58 games. He had 16 home runs all of last year in 113 games during his rookie campaign, so he has a good chance of setting a new career high in 2023.
Jul 23 2023Morel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel is 2-for-13 over the past four contests after sitting out one game with a neck issue, and he'll hit the bench for Sunday's series finale versus St. Louis. Patrick Wisdom is starting at third base while Yan Gomes rests his legs as the designated hitter.
Jul 19 2023Morel (neck) went 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel sat out Tuesday due to neck tightness. This was his first multi-walk game since June 4 -- the 24-year-old is walking at a 7.8 percent rate while striking out at a 30.1 percent clip this season. Despite those lopsided marks, he's maintained a .273/.330/.551 slash line with 15 home runs, 41 RBI, 38 runs scored and two stolen bases through 54 contests overall. He's played primarily at second base lately, but he could move to third base once Dansby Swanson (heel) returns.
Jul 18 2023Morel was scratched from the Cubs' lineup Tuesday against Washington due to neck tightness, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Miles Mastrobuoni will fill in at second base while Morel sits. Morel is still available off the bench, so his injury likely isn't too serious, and he should be considered day-to-day going forward.
Jul 2 2023Morel went 3-for-5 with with a solo home run and three total RBI in Sunday's extra-inning loss to the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel waited until the late innings to make his mark Sunday. His 15th home run of the season in the eighth inning got the Cubs within 6-2. He followed that up with a two-run single in the ninth as Chicago staged a rally that ultimately came up short. Morel has been a revelation with the 15 long balls in only 42 games. He hit 16 homers as a rookie last year and seems poised to fly past that figure soon.
Jul 1 2023Morel went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional RBI in Friday's 10-1 win over Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel narrowly missed a three-run homer in the fourth, which ended up being a sacrifice fly to left field, but he crushed a no-doubter to center in the sixth, tying him with Patrick Wisdom (wrist) for the team lead with 14 long balls. Since an 0-for-21 stretch, the 24-year-old appears to have found his groove again and is slashing 297/.329/.594 with five home runs, 18 RBI and 12 runs scored over his last 17 appearances.
Jun 24 2023Morel went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel entered the first game of the weekend series in London hitless in his last 13 at-bats, but he snapped out of the mini slump in a big way. The 24-year-old has been solid all year for the Cubs, as he now has a .971 OPS with 13 home runs and 30 RBI in 35 games. His strong play has made him a lineup fixture after starting the year with Triple-A Iowa.
Jun 18 2023Morel went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run during Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Following a slump in late May and early June, Morel has gotten hot over his past eight contests with four home runs, 13 RBI and three multi-hit performances. The 23-year-old has a .291/.342/.700 slash line with 13 home runs, 28 RBI and 26 runs in just 31 games this year.
Jun 16 2023Morel went 3-for-5 with a two-run double, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 10-3 victory over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel extended his hit streak to six games Friday, including back-to-back three-hit performances, and has totaled three home runs, a double, a triple and 11 RBI during that stretch. The soon-to-be 24-year-old burst onto the scene after being called up May 9, recording nine home runs and 15 RBI over his first 15 games, but he got ice-cold after that, notching just one hit over his next 10 appearances (28 at-bats). Morel appears to be back on track and is on pace to shatter his rookie totals from last year (16 home runs and 47 RBI across 113 games).
Jun 15 2023Morel went 3-for-3 with a triple, a run scored and two RBI in Thursday's win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel continues to roll along, as he now has hits in five straight games and a robust 1.016 OPS for the season. The 23-year-old's absurd home run pace has predictably slowed down, however. He has two long balls in his last 15 games after going deep nine times in his first 12 contests of the year.
Jun 14 2023Morel went 1-for-1 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's victory over Pittsburgh. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel entered the game in the sixth inning, replacing Ian Happ (calf), and made the most of his lone plate appearance, launching a 404-foot blast in the eighth inning for his 11th home run of the season. Playing time has been hard to come by of late for the 23-year-old, as he has logged just 19 at-bats in the month of June.
Jun 10 2023Morel went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel's hot start to May was quickly washed out by an 0-for-21 skid over his last eight games. That slump saw him lose his hold on a full-time role, though he managed to draw five walks in that span. The 23-year-old broke through Saturday with a fourth-inning solo shot and added a two-run single a frame later. The next step will be finding some level of consistency. He's at a .259/.323/.647 slash line with 10 homers, 18 RBI, 19 runs scored and a stolen base through 93 plate appearances this season.
Jun 8 2023Morel isn't in the Cubs' lineup Thursday against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel's woes at the plate (1-for-25 since May 25) will cause him to miss his third consecutive start as the Cubs search for more production. Miguel Amaya will fill in as Chicago's designated hitter Thursday and bat sixth.
Jun 7 2023Morel is out of the lineup again Wednesday versus the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's the second straight absence for Morel, who has fallen into a 1-for-25 rut since his explosive couple of weeks in May. Trey Mancini is serving as the Cubs' designated hitter Wednesday and Mike Tauchman will patrol center field.
Jun 6 2023Morel is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mike Tauchman is playing center field and Miguel Amaya will take a turn as the Cubs' designated hitter. Morel still boasts strong overall numbers, but he's gone hitless with eight strikeouts over his last 22 plate appearances.
Jun 3 2023Morel is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel has not picked up a hit since May 26 against the Reds, and he's seen his average drop from .333 to .270 in the process. Edwin Rios will be the designated hitter and hit seventh against San Diego while Morel sits.
May 31 2023Morel is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The slumping Morel will head to the bench for the second time in the series, opening up a spot in the lineup for Miles Mastrobuoni at second base while Nico Hoerner gets a day out of the field and serves as the Cubs' designated hitter. After slugging nine home runs and driving in 15 runs in his first 12 games with the Cubs following his promotion from Triple-A Iowa on May 8, Morel has gone 1-for-17 with seven strikeouts and one walk over his last five starts.
May 29 2023Morel is absent from the lineup for Monday's game versus the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's a day off for Morel after he had started each of the previous 17 contests. Morel has finally started to slow down a bit in recent days, going 1-for-14 with five strikeouts across his last four games. Edwin Rios will be the designated hitter Monday in place of Morel.
May 23 2023Morel went 1-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and two runs scored in Tuesday's win over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel continued his incredible power surge, as he now has nine home runs in just 12 games this season. While this level of production has been unexpected, the youngster did record 16 home runs in 113 games as a rookie last year, so this isn't completely out of thin air. Morel is highly unlikely to keep this pace up, but he could be a strong fantasy contributor the rest of the way.
May 21 2023Morel went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel has hit safely in all 11 games since he was recalled from Triple-A. He's now 17-for-46 with eight home runs and a staggering 1.353 OPS with the Cubs this season. While his current pace isn't sustainable, Morel has certainly earned a regular role in Chicago and should be rostered in all fantasy formats.
May 20 2023Morel went 1-for-4 with a walk, a two-run home run and two additional runs scored in Friday's 10-1 win over the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He wrapped up the rout by taking Andrew Bellatti deep in the ninth inning. Morel has six homers in nine games since his promotion, batting a blistering .359 (14-for-39) during that stretch with one steal, 12 runs and 12 RBI.
May 17 2023Morel went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, a walk and two total runs scored in Wednesday's 7-6 loss to the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This was Morel's first three-hit effort of the season, and he's hit safely in all eight games he's played so far. The 23-year-old is making loud contact too, with five homers and two doubles through 36 plate appearances. He's slashing .371/.389/.857 with 10 RBI, nine runs scored and a stolen base.
May 16 2023Morel is starting in center field and batting third Tuesday against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Cody Bellinger (knee) is absent from the lineup for this one, allowing yet another opportunity for Morel to impress. He's gone 9-for-26 (.346) with four homers and nine RBI in six games since his May 8 promotion from Triple-A Iowa. The 23-year-old can also work in at second base for the Cubs as Nico Hoerner recovers from a hamstring strain.
May 15 2023Morel went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Monday's loss to the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel struck out in his other four at-bats, but fantasy managers won't mind the swings and misses as long as he's hitting the ball out of the park. The 23-year-old now has four home runs in six games since getting recalled from Triple-A. The Cubs almost certainly will keep Morel's hot bat in the lineup, especially if Cody Bellinger has to miss any time after leaving Monday's game with a leg injury following a diving catch. Morel shifted over from left field to center to cover for Bellinger after he departed.
May 14 2023Morel went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 16-3 loss to the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel's homer came in the fourth inning with the Cubs already trailing 8-0. The 23-year-old has hit safely in five straight games since his call-up Monday from Triple-A Iowa. He started in center field Sunday after making three starts at second base and one as the designated hitter. Morel is batting .381 with three homers, six RBI, five runs scored, a double and one stolen base in two attempts through 21 plate appearances.
May 12 2023Morel went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Friday's 6-2 win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs batted Morel in the leadoff spot and the youngster responded with another good effort. Since getting recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Monday, he's rattled off three straight multi-hit games along with two home runs and five RBI. About the only blemish Friday was that Morel got caught stealing, but he's doing more than enough to potentially earn more playing time moving forward.
May 10 2023Morel went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two RBI in Wednesday's 10-4 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Starting for the second straight night, Morel once again collected two hits and put together a nice box score. It's too early to tell exactly what his role will be, but the 23-year-old has talent and showed plenty of potential as a rookie last year. If Morel continues to see regular playing time, he's worth keeping an eye on in fantasy leagues.
May 9 2023Morel went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Tuesday's loss to the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Monday and saw his first game action Tuesday, and he wasted no time getting going. The 23-year-old had 16 home runs and 10 steals as a rookie in 2022, so he's shown a nice mix of power and speed in his brief career. Morel could be an interesting fantasy option if he sees enough playing time moving forward.
May 8 2023The Cubs recalled Morel from Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Morel forced the Cubs' hand by putting up a blistering .330/.425/.730 slash line with 11 home runs and four stolen bases over 29 games with Iowa. The 23-year-old should see fairly regular playing time while bouncing around in a super-utility role. Morel's contact issues have remained this season with a 30.6 percent strikeout rate at Iowa, but his potential to offer some power and speed while being eligible at multiple positions makes him a viable deep-league addition.