Christopher Morel

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #29 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: The Cubs signed Morel for $800,000 in 2015 as part of a strong international signing class that included Brailyn Marquez and Miguel Amaya. He moved slowly through the low minors but received a boost when the Cubs invited him to the alternate training site in 2020. Morel performed well enough to be added to the 40-man roster after the season and jumped to Double-A in 2021, where he struggled initially before finishing strong to earn a promotion to Triple-A.
  
  Scouting Report: Morel is one of the most versatile athletes in the Cubs system. He’s an explosive, plus runner who is an above-average defender at both shortstop and center field and can also play second base, third base, right field and left field. He has plus-plus arm strength, although his accuracy needs improvement. Morel has plenty of bat speed and borderline plus-plus raw power, but his swing gets long and he is extremely streaky with his pitch selection. He is particularly vulnerable against velocity high and inside. He hits the ball hard in the air when he connects, but he is prone to swinging and missing and needs to improve his consistency.
  
  The Future: Morel projects to be a utilityman who provides occasional pop off the bench. He’ll start 2022 back in Triple-A.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #9 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 45. Power: 60. Running: 60. Fielding: 50. Arm: 70.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Cubs signed Morel for $800,000 as part of their stellar 2015 international signing class that included Brailyn Marquez, Miguel Amaya and current Tigers third baseman Isaac Paredes. Morel struggled initially after signing but broke out at low Class A South Bend in 2019 before sustaining a season-ending knee injury. The Cubs brought him to their alternate training site in 2020.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Morel has some of the loudest tools in the Cubs’ system. He has massive, plus-plus raw power, is a plus runner and has a cannon for a right arm. Morel’s issue is he often plays too fast. He’s an aggressive, free swinger who chases fastballs up and breaking balls down and away and rushes plays in the infield, resulting in too many throwing errors. He reeled in his approach to stay up the middle at the alternate site and improved greatly over the course of camp, giving the Cubs hope he will hit enough to get to his power. He’s an average defender at third base who can also stand at shortstop and second base. The Cubs plan to experiment with him in center field to expand his versatility.
  
  THE FUTURE: Morel made great strides at the alternate site in 2020. He’ll see if they hold in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #27 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The older brother of fellow Cubs farmhand Rafael Morel, Christopher was signed for $800,000 but had his pro debut delayed by injury. He's struggled to put together solid numbers until this past season at low Class A South Bend. Once again, though, his progress was cut off by injuries. In this case, he hurt his knee while going for a foul ball with low Class A South Bend. He compounded the injury by trying to play through the pain and was limited to 73 games before shutting it down for the year.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Despite the lack of numbers, Morel's tools are still there. He's got a free-swinging approach at the plate that he'll need to temper if he's to reach his ceiling. When he does connect, however, the impact potential is obvious. He can get to plus velocity and scalds balls to all sectors with what the Cubs believe is potential double-plus power. They also believe he has a chance to be an average hitter, but there's a long way to go to get to that ceiling. Morel is a rangy, twitchy defender at third base who could play shortstop if needed. His power potential and strong arm play better at third base, though, and his range at the position would help him at shortstop as well. He's a smart, instinctive runner with above-average speed.
  
  THE FUTURE: Morel has moved slowly so far. The Cubs could choose to accelerate his timetable by sending him to high Class A Myrtle Beach and hoping the warmer early-season weather helps him get off to a quick start.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The Cubs signed Morel for $800,000 in 2015 as part of a strong international signing class that included Brailyn Marquez and Miguel Amaya. He moved slowly through the low minors but received a boost when the Cubs invited him to the alternate training site in 2020. Morel performed well enough to be added to the 40-man roster after the season and jumped to Double-A in 2021, where he struggled initially before finishing strong to earn a promotion to Triple-A.
  
  Scouting Report: Morel is one of the most versatile athletes in the Cubs system. He’s an explosive, plus runner who is an above-average defender at both shortstop and center field and can also play second base, third base, right field and left field. He has plus-plus arm strength, although his accuracy needs improvement. Morel has plenty of bat speed and borderline plus-plus raw power, but his swing gets long and he is extremely streaky with his pitch selection. He is particularly vulnerable against velocity high and inside. He hits the ball hard in the air when he connects, but he is prone to swinging and missing and needs to improve his consistency.
  
  The Future: Morel projects to be a utilityman who provides occasional pop off the bench. He’ll start 2022 back in Triple-A.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 45. Power: 60. Running: 60. Fielding: 50. Arm: 70.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Cubs signed Morel for $800,000 as part of their stellar 2015 international signing class that included Brailyn Marquez, Miguel Amaya and current Tigers third baseman Isaac Paredes. Morel struggled initially after signing but broke out at low Class A South Bend in 2019 before sustaining a season-ending knee injury. The Cubs brought him to their alternate training site in 2020.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Morel has some of the loudest tools in the Cubs' system. He has massive, plus-plus raw power, is a plus runner and has a cannon for a right arm. Morel's issue is he often plays too fast. He's an aggressive, free swinger who chases fastballs up and breaking balls down and away and rushes plays in the infield, resulting in too many throwing errors. He reeled in his approach to stay up the middle at the alternate site and improved greatly over the course of camp, giving the Cubs hope he will hit enough to get to his power. He's an average defender at third base who can also stand at shortstop and second base. The Cubs plan to experiment with him in center field to expand his versatility.
  
  THE FUTURE: Morel made great strides at the alternate site in 2020. He'll see if they hold in 2021.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 45. Power: 60. Running: 60. Fielding: 50. Arm: 70.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Cubs signed Morel for $800,000 as part of their stellar 2015 international signing class that included Brailyn Marquez, Miguel Amaya and current Tigers third baseman Isaac Paredes. Morel struggled initially after signing but broke out at low Class A South Bend in 2019 before sustaining a season-ending knee injury. The Cubs brought him to their alternate training site in 2020.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Morel has some of the loudest tools in the Cubs’ system. He has massive, plus-plus raw power, is a plus runner and has a cannon for a right arm. Morel’s issue is he often plays too fast. He’s an aggressive, free swinger who chases fastballs up and breaking balls down and away and rushes plays in the infield, resulting in too many throwing errors. He reeled in his approach to stay up the middle at the alternate site and improved greatly over the course of camp, giving the Cubs hope he will hit enough to get to his power. He’s an average defender at third base who can also stand at shortstop and second base. The Cubs plan to experiment with him in center field to expand his versatility.
  
  THE FUTURE: Morel made great strides at the alternate site in 2020. He’ll see if they hold in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 45. Power: 60. Running: 60. Fielding: 50. Arm: 70.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The Cubs signed Morel for $800,000 as part of their stellar 2015 international signing class that included Brailyn Marquez, Miguel Amaya and current Tigers third baseman Isaac Paredes. Morel struggled initially after signing but broke out at low Class A South Bend in 2019 before sustaining a season-ending knee injury. The Cubs brought him to their alternate training site in 2020.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Morel has some of the loudest tools in the Cubs’ system. He has massive, plus-plus raw power, is a plus runner and has a cannon for a right arm. Morel’s issue is he often plays too fast. He’s an aggressive, free swinger who chases fastballs up and breaking balls down and away and rushes plays in the infield, resulting in too many throwing errors. He reeled in his approach to stay up the middle at the alternate site and improved greatly over the course of camp, giving the Cubs hope he will hit enough to get to his power. He’s an average defender at third base who can also stand at shortstop and second base. The Cubs plan to experiment with him in center field to expand his versatility.
  
  THE FUTURE: Morel made great strides at the alternate site in 2020. He’ll see if they hold in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The older brother of fellow Cubs farmhand Rafael Morel, Christopher was signed for $800,000 but had his pro debut delayed by injury. He’s struggled to put together solid numbers until this past season at low Class A South Bend. Once again, though, his progress was cut off by injuries. In this case, he hurt his knee while going for a foul ball with low Class A South Bend. He compounded the injury by trying to play through the pain and was limited to 73 games before shutting it down for the year.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Despite the lack of numbers, Morel’s tools are still there. He’s got a free-swinging approach at the plate that he’ll need to temper if he’s to reach his ceiling. When he does connect, however, the impact potential is obvious. He can get to plus velocity and scalds balls to all sectors with what the Cubs believe is potential double-plus power. They also believe he has a chance to be an average hitter, but there’s a long way to go to get to that ceiling. Morel is a rangy, twitchy defender at third base who could play shortstop if needed. His power potential and strong arm play better at third base, though, and his range at the position would help him at shortstop as well. He’s a smart, instinctive runner with above-average speed.
  
  THE FUTURE: Morel has moved slowly so far. The Cubs could choose to accelerate his timetable by sending him to high Class A Myrtle Beach and hoping the warmer early-season weather helps him get off to a quick start.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The older brother of fellow Cubs farmhand Rafael Morel, Christopher was signed for $800,000 but had his pro debut delayed by injury. He's struggled to put together solid numbers until this past season at low Class A South Bend. Once again, though, his progress was cut off by injuries. In this case, he hurt his knee while going for a foul ball with low Class A South Bend. He compounded the injury by trying to play through the pain and was limited to 73 games before shutting it down for the year.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Despite the lack of numbers, Morel's tools are still there. He's got a free-swinging approach at the plate that he'll need to temper if he's to reach his ceiling. When he does connect, however, the impact potential is obvious. He can get to plus velocity and scalds balls to all sectors with what the Cubs believe is potential double-plus power. They also believe he has a chance to be an average hitter, but there's a long way to go to get to that ceiling. Morel is a rangy, twitchy defender at third base who could play shortstop if needed. His power potential and strong arm play better at third base, though, and his range at the position would help him at shortstop as well. He's a smart, instinctive runner with above-average speed.
  
  THE FUTURE: Morel has moved slowly so far. The Cubs could choose to accelerate his timetable by sending him to high Class A Myrtle Beach and hoping the warmer early-season weather helps him get off to a quick start.