The Minnesota Twins are navigating a tricky situation with their pitching staff. With Pablo López set for Tommy John surgery, the team's rotation depth has taken a hit, opening the door for prospects like Andrew Morris to step up.
Morris, a 24-year-old right-hander, finds himself in a pivotal position. With López sidelined, Morris is climbing the ranks among potential starters, but there's also chatter about his potential role as a reliever if veteran bullpen options falter.
Morris has drawn comparisons to fellow Twins pitcher Zebby Matthews, primarily due to their similar developmental paths and velocity gains on their fastballs. Morris made significant strides in 2024, moving from High-A to Triple-A St.
Paul, logging 133 innings across three levels. Despite a forearm strain in 2025, he managed 94 ⅔ innings with a 4.09 ERA, showing promising signs of growth.
Two standout elements of Morris' game are his effective four-seam fastball and his ability to limit walks. His diverse pitch arsenal, including a sinker, cutter, curve, slider, and changeup, positions him well as a starter, provided these pitches can effectively challenge MLB hitters.
However, the Twins still need to see more consistent performance from Morris' entire repertoire before he makes the leap to the majors. His fastball, clocking in at 94-96 MPH and occasionally touching 98 MPH, is his go-to pitch, used 29.8% of the time last season. Despite its velocity, it’s been hit hard, with a 47.67% hard-hit rate.
The rest of Morris’ pitch mix, aside from his sweeper, lacks significant movement, making them easier targets for batters. Improving the shape and deception of his pitches could enhance his effectiveness against opponents.
According to Prospect Savant, Morris scores well overall, but their psStuff+ metric reveals that only his cutter (104) and sweeper (103) rank above the benchmark of 100. The cutter, in particular, stands out for its potential, although it hasn't yet delivered the expected results. Enhancing this pitch could significantly elevate Morris' status within the Twins' system.
If Morris were to transition to a one-inning reliever role, we might see an uptick in his fastball velocity. He could also streamline his pitch selection, focusing on his sweeper and cutter, which have shown promise. However, maintaining some secondary pitches could be beneficial, especially against left-handed hitters.
Given the current state of the Twins' roster and López's injury, it seems prudent to keep Morris in a starting role for now. Continued development in Triple-A St.
Paul appears to be the best path forward. If circumstances change, Morris has the potential to transition to the bullpen, following in the footsteps of many starters before him.
For now, though, he's best positioned to continue honing his skills as a starter.