Cubs News: Jed Hoyer believes that Christopher Morel is 'emerging as an elite slugger' |
The Chicago Cubs have been giving youngster Christopher Morel a chance to play every day and get comfortable at third base during the early portion of the 2024 regular season.
So far, signs are encouraging that Morel can handle the cleanup duty with a better patient approach at the plate, most recently against the Atlanta Braves. “That kind of battle in that situation, laying off the pitches he laid off of but still trying to be aggressive,” Hoyer told the Bernstein & Holmes Show on Tuesday. “I mean, he’s still trying to homer, he’s still trying to hit the ball really hard, but his decision-making has gotten better and better. And what we’re watching, if he can continue to make decisions at this rate, I just think we’re watching a guy that’s emerging as an elite slugger." Hoyer is excited to see what kind of production Morel can do once summer starts at Wrigley Field. “We know how hard he hits the ball," Hoyer said. If now he makes good decisions at the plate, takes his walks and forces pitchers in the zone, I think the sky’s the limit in terms of the number of homers he can hit as it warms up in the summer. We’re watching something pretty exciting." Hoyer knows that More has been better defensively with the consistent reps at the hot corner. “I would add that his defense has gotten better and better. There were times in when he struggled with his throwing, but he’s go and more consistent over there. I think that’s the most important thing in the infield – the ability to convert routine plays into outs is so important. And we’re definitely a better team offensively if we can put him at third. Hoyer concluded the interview by remaining optimistic that Morel will have a great year as he matures as a young star in the game. “It’s been a pretty exciting year of development. And I don’t think all those developments have kind of manifested in terms of his numbers. But I think if he continues to do that, we’re going to just watch his numbers pop as the summer goes on.” Morel is hitting .223 with nine home runs, 27 RBIs, and a .747 OPS in 41 games this season.
