A.J. Morris (2021) - K-State Athletics Hall of Fame - Kansas State University Athletics

A.J. Morris

Induction:
2021
Class:
2009

A.J. Morris exploded into K-State baseball lore with a legendary junior campaign in 2009, leading the Wildcats to the first-ever NCAA Regional appearance. Morris ended the season with a school-record 14 wins a 2.09 ERA, earning Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, 1^st-team All-Midwest Region honors, District Player of the Year, and NCAA Houston All-Regional team. Morris was a finalist for two national awards, the College Baseball Foundation Pitcher of the Year Award, and the Golden Spikes Award, given to college baseball’s annual top player. He also became the second Wildcat and first pitcher to ever be named Consensus 1^st-Team All-American. Morris set four single-season records including wins, innings pitched, and strikeouts, and saved his best games for the best opponents, going 7-0 with a 1.93 ERA against ranked teams. Morris was a 4^th round draft choice by the Washington Nationals in 2009 and played seven seasons in professional baseball, making his MLB debut in 2016 with the Cincinnati Reds and playing with Team Italy at the World Baseball Classic in 2017.