For years, the spotlight has hovered near Orange Lutheran’s Josh Morgan, but it was never quite fully fixed on him.
After all, it’s hard to get all the attention when playing scout ball with Dominic Smith and J.P. Crawford, two first-round picks in the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft, and for the Lancers with Jason Martin, who was drafted in the eighth round by the Houston Astros.
This season, Morgan’s senior campaign with the Lancers, the focus has gravitated to the shortstop like a magnet – in the form of scouts critiquing every play.
“I try not to let it get in the way,” Morgan said. “For some guys, myself included sometimes, it can be nerve-wrecking, because you always want to please a scout. You’re not going to please (them all), which other guys and I have to understand.
“Personally, I like the spotlight.”
And for good reason. Morgan has thrived in it this year. Through Wednesday, the UCLA-bound senior was batting .312 with 10 RBI, 13 runs scored and eight stolen bases.
His play is one of the reasons Orange Lutheran (12-11, 7-5) has rebounded from a 4-9 start to second place in the Trinity League standings, with wins in seven of its past eight games.
“I think he’s handled it tremendously well,” Lancers coach Eric Borba said. “It’s not easy for an 18-year old kid to have scouts at every practice and people watching what seems to be every move. And having to deal with that while still trying to be a leader and helping our team compete for a league championship. He’s gone about the game the way he always has.”
Morgan understands the game of baseball is a game of failures, and professionals are considered successful despite failing in seven out of 10 at bats. But he felt his junior year provided a lot of adversity.
Morgan’s hitting wasn’t up to his standards and it reached a low point in the summer at the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars, which is a collection of young standouts competing for 18-and-under national team consideration.
Morgan went hitless and struck out plenty during the tournament.
“He had – arguably – the worst week of his life …” said Jeff Morgan, Josh’s father. “I didn’t know if he would even want to play baseball after that week. In looking back at it, it told him how much he needed to work.”
It didn’t take long for Josh to significantly develop his offensive game.
“From early summer to the fall, that improvement was there,” said Nathan Rode, national supervisor for Prep Baseball Report. “Just showing ability to square the ball up and use the whole field.
Morgan has always been highly regarded for his defensive tools. He’s known for his slick glove and ability to make difficult plays appear routine. That’s why there will be plenty of suitors for his services upon his graduation.
UCLA has always been Morgan’s dream school. The Bruins received his commitment nearly two years ago, and he signed his National Letter of Intent in November.
Playing for Coach John Savage at UCLA, which won the NCAA Division 1 championship a year ago, is enticing for Morgan. But so is Major League Baseball, which certainly will be calling his name when the draft rolls around next month.
“Just off of last summer, and given the dearth of position players, and the fact he plays up the middle and things like that, he’s certainly a top-four round guy,” Rode said. “You’re certainly talking about an early-round prospect, given that he’s a high school guy, who’s shown some ability with the bat lately, is athletic, and plays up the middle.”
Jeff said he hasn’t sat down with Josh to discuss a baseline pick or round in the draft that will determine whether Josh goes to school or turns pro, but he said the talk will come at some point.
“To be perfectly honest, we don’t even like to talk about it a whole lot,” Jeff said. “One, it doesn’t mean anything, and all the people who talk about it on websites and blogs, none of them have draft picks. We learned that a long time ago.”
Wherever Morgan does end up, there will be a fair share of failures – and he knows that – but it his ability to respond from those may help him stay in the limelight.
Contact the writer: amorales@ocregister.com
