SE: A.J. Morris’ WBC Experience Adds to Lifetime of Baseball Memories

Wearing a cross necklace, a tan Wilson glove and New Balance cleats, A.J. Morris was living a familiar dream in unfamiliar circumstances. Morris was on the pitcher's mound, striking out batters like he had hundreds of times before, with a few major differences.

Morris' cleats pushed off a mound in Guadalajara, Mexico. His glove reeled in throws from Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli. His necklace swung across a blue jersey, with "Italia" etched in white lettering across his chest.

Two weeks ago, the Texas native and former K-State star was sitting down batters in the World Baseball Classic for Italy. His journey to joining the Italian team, however, dates back more than five years — decades if his ancestry is taken into account.

"My great grandmother was from Italy and she was in our lives for a long time while we were young," said Morris, who turned his extreme interest in his family history into somewhat of a project while rehabbing from a shoulder surgery about five years ago. "I was looking for something to do. I started to study Italian and also kind of looked into my family history a little bit to find out more on where my great grandmother came from and how she got here."

While in the Chicago Cubs' minor league system, a few of Morris' teammates approached him about playing for the Italian national team in the third edition of the World Baseball Classic in 2013. Through Italian nationality law, Morris was able to claim citizenship and therefore qualify for a roster spot on the national team.

His spot would have to be filled by another player, however.

"The Chicago Cubs (organization) didn't want me to play because I just came off surgery and I needed more time to rest," he said. "Four years later, finally the opportunity came to where they asked me again and I was able to play."

Morris enjoyed every moment of this year's WBC, despite Italy posting a 1-3 record to just miss advancing out of first round of pool play.

"It was incredible. It was one of the most fun teams I have ever been on. Everybody wanted everybody to do well," Morris said. "There was no trying to make it to the big leagues or anything like that. There was one common goal and that was all there was to it. The guys got along really well and we built that team chemistry very quickly."

Two of the Italians' losses were by one run, and Morris provided a memorable performance in one of them. Against Venezuela, in what served as an elimination game, Morris tossed five no-hit innings in his only start of the WBC. A pitch limit (65 pitches in the first round) ended his night, however, and Venezuela rallied to win, 4-3.

Still, Morris agreed the game was the highlight for his time in the WBC.

"Don't get me wrong, I would've traded it in a heartbeat if we had moved on to the next round," he said. "If I had gone one inning, given up eight runs and we won 9-8, I would've been happy."

Morris fanned five batters and walked just one in his hitless outing. He did so against a Venezuela lineup that consisted of notable MLB players such as Miguel Cabrera, Alcides Escobar, Victor Martinez, Rougned Odor, Martin Prado and Carlos Gonzales.

"It was an awesome experience. While it was going on, I was more focused on the game," he said. "I didn't really know what was going on until after I was done and they told me my pitch count was up. Looking back on it, now that it's all said and done, it was one of my greatest highlights, or memories, that I'll have with me for the rest of my life."

In total, Morris appeared in three games at the WBC, posting a 3.68 ERA in 7 1/3 innings that included a 0.68 WHIP. The key, he said, was "staying within myself."

He said his confidence didn't necessarily grow from the WBC experience. If anything, it was reaffirmed.

"When you're a pitcher and you've pitched as long as I have, and most of the other guys have, your confidence is already sky high. You have to believe in yourself if you want to compete at the highest levels," Morris said. "Once you get into a game, you're not really focused on who you're facing. You're just competing and trying to do what you know how to do."

Morris undoubtedly knows how to pitch, as his time at K-State strongly indicates.

He collected 22 victories, second all-time at K-State, in his three seasons with the Wildcats (2007-09). Morris piled up 14 victories and 100 strikeouts, both school records, to go with a 2.09 ERA in 116 1/3 innings of work in 2009.

On top of being named a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, which current MLB star Stephen Strasburg went on to win, Morris' record-breaking season made him only the second K-State player, and the first pitcher, to ever earn consensus All-America honors.

His time with the Wildcats left his name scattered throughout the program's record book. His junior season, which included just one loss on the mound, helped carry K-State to its first NCAA Regional and to a then-school record 43 victories.

Morris feels he received as much, if not more, from K-State than he gave.

"The number one thing was just discipline," Morris said of what he took away from his time at K-State, crediting head coach Brad Hill and then-pitching coach Sean McCann. "I would say it was just the discipline — understanding to be on time, to do the things you needed to do to prepare yourself for the game or to prepare yourself for the season — and I've carried that with me my entire career."

Picked by the Washington Nationals in the fourth round of the 2009 MLB Draft, which made him the highest Wildcat drafted since 1972, Morris began what seemingly turned into a journeyman minor league career. He played for 10 different minor league teams, maintaining the same discipline and love for the game through thick and thin.

Last May, Morris received the call every minor league player dreams of. At the time, he was with the Louisville Bats, the AAA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, who needed an arm for the bullpen. His time had finally arrived. He was heading to the majors.

"It was awesome," Morris said. "It was a dream come true."

Unfortunately for the former Wildcat, this dream would be short-lived.

About nine months before being unhittable in the WBC, Morris walked a batter in his seventh appearance of his first MLB stint. Immediately, his face said it all. Something wasn't right, and Morris left the game with a shoulder injury.

A 15-day disabled list stint turned into a 60-day designation for Morris, who returned to his Louisville assignment in August but not to the Reds.

"You would've liked to perform a little better," said Morris, who recorded a 6.30 ERA in 10.0 innings with the Reds. "I would've liked a little more time. Injuries kind of put a hiccup in that, but, like I said, it was an amazing experience. It's what you worked so hard for to achieve. Obviously, I would love to get back to it."

Currently, Morris is a free agent. He would love to return to the mound professionally if the right opportunity presents itself.

"If somebody presents me with an opportunity to play in a good situation, absolutely," he said. "I'm kind of just staying in the moment and whatever happens, happens."

His in-the-moment mentality reflects that of his Twitter bio, which reads in Italian: "Comincia ogni giorno com'è l'ultimo." Translated to English, it means to "start each day as the last."

Morris, now fluent in English and Spanish, the latter he picked up through his wife, will remain thankful for the life baseball has given him. He turned his childhood love into a career, making lifelong friends and memories along the way.

More than anything, baseball taught him how to handle failure, success and adversity. So, regardless of what comes next, Morris is happy with what came before it.

"When you grow up playing (baseball), your dream is, obviously, to make it to the big leagues and be successful at that level," Morris said. "I don't think that when you're young you realize all of the opportunities that it could present. All the places that I've been playing and countries that I've seen, it's allowed me to see so much and experience so much that I'll be forever indebted to the game."

For more K-State Sports Extra content visit the archive or subscribe to K-State Athletics and get great content delivered directly to your email inbox.

Kansas State University Athletics

SE: A.J. Morris’ WBC Experience Adds to Lifetime of Baseball Memories

Related Videos