The Yellow Springs Nine issued the following press release:
Today, in the Rule 5 Draft, without losing a single player, the Yellow Springs Nine were proud to draft, first overall, dual-threat Outfielder/Pitcher Raul Morales from fellow Heartland Division occupants the Nashville Bluebirds.
Morales, 24 was the Bluebird's first round draft choice in 2054 out of the Chevrolet Chevys. He finished second in 2053 in the best batter awards at the college level and subsequently netted third place in the best batter voting in rookie ball in his first year as a pro. This past season, Morales was named the best designated hitter in AA. Though all of his acolades are as a hitter, Morales is a true double threat, pitching as well with a career record in AA of 7-4 with one save in 21 games to a 3.84 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. His AA batting line is .343, with an OPS of .971 and 8.2 WAR.
Morales becomes the first Nine player under McMonigal, in either the major or minor leagues to be featured as both a batter and a pitcher.
"I couldn't believe it when I saw that Morales was unprotected," said McMonigal. " My scouts couldn't stop talking about his stuff, and while his movement isn't amazing, it's still a lot better than most of the players current in our organization. We don't see him as a starter, especially not for the Nine themselves this year, but he can do a great job eating up innings and gaining experience.
"But the real bonus here is his ability to hit the ball. Maybe it's because of his time as a pitcher, but his eye, contact, and ability to keep away from strikeouts really intrigue us. There's a little bit of pop in that bat, too. We only get 27 roster spots, and we often use one or two for Rule 5 picks. This is like getting a two for one special, all at the expense of the farm system of one of the best teams in all of the BBA, much as it pains me to admit it."
Asked if he plans to develop Morales more as a batter or a pitcher, McMonigal simply replied, "yes."
