As Charlie Morton continues to recover from a fractured fibula, the veteran righty said last week that he is “mostly caught up” to where he’d be physically at this point in a normal offseason, The Athletic’s David O’Brien writes. Morton did caution that he wouldn’t know for sure until he actually got back to regular action in a Spring Training environment, though for now, all seems good for Morton as he approaches his 15th Major League season. Still in fine form last year, Morton was a big contributor to the Braves’ championship team, though the righty’s participation in the World Series was limited to just 2 1/3 innings after he was hit in the leg by a ball off the bat of Yuli Gurriel during Game One. Three of Morton’s seven outs were recorded after the injury, as Morton gutted out the pain as long as he could.
Assuming Morton is healthy, he’ll represent one less question mark for an Atlanta roster that is already largely set (with the obvious exception of first base and the Freddie Freeman situation). With the lockout now forcing some type of shortened or even a rushed Spring Training, this could play to the Braves’ favor, as they already have a familiar chemistry between the coaching staff and the players, plus most of the World Series-winning core group will be returning.
More from the NL East…
- Mets prospect Matt Allan underwent ulnar nerve transposition surgery in January, the right-hander told The New York Daily News’ Deesha Thosar and other reporters. The procedure shouldn’t have much impact on Allan’s overall timeline for getting back onto the mound, as Allan was already expected to miss most or possibly all of the 2022 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last May. There is still a chance Allan could make it back this year, and he is making good progress in his TJ recovery, with Allan slated to start playing catch in about two weeks’ time. Allan (who turns 21 in April) was a third-round pick in the 2019 draft and was included in several top-100 prospects lists prior to the start of the 2021 season.
- With Ryan Zimmerman’s retirement, the Nationals have a need for another first baseman to complement Josh Bell, and MASNsports.com’s Bobby Blanco figures the team will replace Zimmerman with another veteran free agent. There’s a chance Washington might look at an internal option but none really stand out. Mike Ford is a player who somewhat bridges both worlds, as he was a National before the club non-tendered him in November, and Blanco wonders if the Nats might re-sign Ford at a lower price tag when the lockout is over.
Freddy, say it ain’t so
Seems like Mets found something about Tommy John surgery not going Wright (had to use as a Mets fan) than people realize. This is why Hef was kept. After watching multiple people get this, I gotta believe!
Cancel the season. Give it a year or 2 or 3.
Go away.
Just cancel baseball. Braves forever champions. Everything ended the way it should if we stop now.
Lol. I was going to say the same thing about Braves fans who want the season to come back. What are you complaining about? As long as it doesn’t start back up, you guys are permanent World Champions. What could be better than that?
Watching baseball? Or playing it? I don’t think players or most fans care as much about world series as you do.
Even better. Just cancel it. NO MORE!
voice of treason?
You need therapy whos care the brave
Ya. What The best23 said; “whos care the Braves?”
Charlie Morton has the biggest balls in baseball, or at least the best pain tolerance. The end.
Kevin Pillar with a fractured nose would be up there as well.
Ronald Acuna is the league’s greatest fisherman.
Kevin Pillar left the game after that Braves pitcher hit him in the face. Charlie Morton struck out the side after he broke his leg. Totally different. Getting hurt doesn’t make you have big balls/pain tolerance. It’s playing through it that does. Not complaining about Pillar. That injury looked brutal. I think the other guy’s point was Morton actually went on to pitch another shut out inning after he broke his leg, though.
@Cohens_Wallet
Not close, you don’t stand on your nose.
I’ve had a broken leg and a broken nose, pain is pain, but when it comes to this the two are not comparable. For Morton to stand there and throw more pitches with a fractured fibula is quite beyond belief.
I’ve never measured a guy’s balls so maybe you guys are right, what I do know is the guy came back to play ahead of time with a plate on his face and risking a bigger and more serious Injury if something were to even come close to his face again.
I wasn’t trying to say Pillar was better, all I said was Pillar was up there as well.
Pillar is tough no doubt, but best broken nose goes to Aaron Rowand in my book.
@Cohens Wallet. I don’t get why anyone above felt the need to disregard Pillar playing with a broken nose. That DOES take some grapes to do regardless as to whether someone else had it worse or not. If almost anyone else broke their nose on the job, you wouldnt probably even stay to finish the document you were working on before you left for the hospital.
Allen is a stud. He’ll be top 10 minor leaguer in 2024.
How about Charlie Culberson?
Nationals could use Riley Adams at first base.
Shhh. Answers like that are only for people that actually do a little work or have a little knowledge.
‘None stand out, so might as well fill the void with any of a hundred other options elsewhere in the league’s allows the writer to have the best chance of being correct without committing to anyone. Easy peasy, move on to the next fluff piece.
Every time I see Morton pitch or read a story about him, I’m reminded not only that he’s a good guy but that it took leaving Pittsburgh to learn how to pitch
Pitching guru Ray Searage may have been instrumental in resurrecting the careers of Burnett and Liriano, but Cole and Morton perfected their crafts in Houston, it would appear, as they learned the value of off speed and spin pitches
Always enjoy watching Morton pitch.
I think he actually went from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia and was pretty much mediocre in Philly before the Astros. So I guess you could technically say it took Morton leaving Philadelphia to learn how to pitch. He was also pretty average his first stint in Atlanta so it’s likely it took him learning new things in Houston. It looks like he was just able to retain what he learned in Houston when he went to Tampa Bay and his 2nd stint in Atlanta. What surprised me is how the Astros and Rays made no real effort to keep him after he was so good there. The Astros didn’t even make him a qualifying offer and then the Rays turned down their $15 million team option. That was surprising to me. The worst case scenario is both of those teams would have been able to keep Morton for a good bit less than the Braves are paying him. The Astros also could have still saved the money and got draft pick compensation when he signed elsewhere while the Rays could have kept him at a discount or traded him for something pretty good.
He pitched a whole 17 innings in Phil…..if he learned anything it was when he went to Houston and revived what had been a pretty mediocre career up to that point.
Yeah, I understand and agree with all of this. I’m not trying to run down Ray Searage, mind you. He worked wonders with Burnett, Liriano and Volquez, among others. But Morton and Cole literally became different pitchers in Houston
Morton refined a killer change up and spin pitches that we rarely saw here. Cole was taught he can’t simply blow the ball by every batter he faces, which was his habit.
I guess an argument could be made for Glasnow, as well, although the jury is still out on him. He certainly looked different as a Ray
Ford is a LH hitter and Bell hits better from the left side. That makes a lopsided platoon. If the article about Tommy Pham is true about him learning 1B he could make sense. The Nats need OF help to so Pham would serve a dual purpose.
Huh? Pham at 1B? Isn’t he like 5’8”?
According to his Baseball Reference page he is listed as 6’1. That could be with his cleats on and his hat resting on top of his head but i believe he is bigger than 5’8
Nats having to go with a FA signing to replace Zimmerman as backup 1B? Wow! What a shocker. That’s some great reporting.
Maybe the fact that they’ve had one of the worst farm systems for years was a clue that they don’t have a prospect to fill the role?