ST. PETERSBURG, FL — One day before the trade deadline, the Rays splashed the market by sending All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes to the Cubs in exchange for OF Cristopher Morel, RHP Hunter Bigge, and RHP Ty Johnson. The trade was a shocker for everyone; no one expected either because they didn’t expect these MLB players to be moved or because of the destinations involved, but the Rays front office always finds a way to surprise the league. The question yet to be answered is how the Rays will develop a young bat with enormous raw power but with some swing and miss, such as Morel.
Cristopher Morel has scuffled a little bit this season, hitting .193/.301/.367. However, the narrative says his stat line should not be as mediocre. His expected slash line suggests much better results. Morel has an xBA of .236, xSLG of .443, and ranks in the 76th percentile of xOBP. Not meeting these expectations mean unlucky results, but these have yet to take Morel’s focus away.
“When things are not under your control, it’s simply better not to circle around them,” Morel said on Monday. “Under the things I can control, I feel proud of what I have accomplished this season.”
His xWOBA also outperforms his WOBA by 47 points, ranking first in the majors. In other words, Cristopher Morel has been the unluckiest hitter in 2024 (minimum 300 plate appearances). But being unlucky in the past is not a predictor for the future when you have great tools at your disposal.
One of the Dominican-born player’s best tools is his bat speed. Simply put, his bat is one of the quickest in the majors. His average bat speed is 76.3 MPH, which puts him in the 8th spot overall in baseball. Model’s main area of focus is staying in the zone; that is how he can maximize his tremendous bat speed.
“I must trust in myself and my hands and don’t do too much whenever I’m at the plate. I must control the strike zone because, throughout the year, it has helped me to improve my walks.”
Morel’s exceptional bat speed puts him in the 97th percentile, which makes him a threat every time he steps on the plate.
At 25 years old he is experiencing his finest season in the plate discipline department. His strikeout percentage (24.5) marks a career best, which is down 6.5 points from last season.
“This is where I need to be more mature, but slowly, I have been able to control my emotions during the game,” Morel explained when asked why his strikeout rate has been down this season. “Ultimately, the goal is to put the ball in play.”
The number of walks has also increased exponentially; Morel walks 11.6% of the time. This walk rate is by far his best mark in the majors so far; he has a career of 9.6 BB%. Plate discipline has been a major area of improvement, and Christoper is aware of it.
“Be more consistent in starting early; that has been key,” Morel explained. “I must let the ball get to me because sometimes my emotions take control of the game.”
The biggest question mark surrounding Morel is his defensive home. Regarding the defensive metrics, Morel ranks almost dead last within FanGraphs fielding value at -10 and OAA (outs above average) at -13. So far, Morel has played mainly second base; however, during his career, Morel has handled the OF and 3B, and many here at DRaysBay expect by 2025 the Rays will have made right field his next defensive home.
“Since the first day I came here, I told the manager that winning is the only important thing. Wherever [Kevin Cash] needs me, I will play. I must accept the decision that the manager takes. I will play the position the team needs me to fill. If I need to play the outfield, I’m willing to do so, and I’m ready for it.”
The moral of the story is that Morel has the tools to be a star. His elite attributes contribute to a super-unique bat in the lineup. Additionally, he has the charisma and attitude to lead on this team. He could turn out to be the glue that puts together a solid clubhouse environment year in and year out.
