Nyjer Morgan

2013

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2012

Morgan hit .304/.357/.421 in 2011 and made a big splash on the national scene with his antics. He stole 13 bases last season, though he's not that great of a basestealer despite having a 42-steal season under his belt between the Nats and Pirates in 2009. Morgan should resume his role as the left-handed side of a center-field platoon with Carlos Gomez in 2012, while he'll carry added value if he's still slotted into the second spot in the Brewers lineup.

2011

Morgan simply fell apart in 2010. He let an early-season slump at the plate and on the basepaths eat away at him, and eventually was suspended for eight games in September. He's still got the ability to be an asset in center field and the leadoff spot, and the Nationals don't really have any viable options to replace him, so the club will do what it can to help him maintain his focus when things don't go his way. Another season like 2010 though and Morgan will almost certainly find himself in another uniform.

2010

Morgan did a spot-on Ichiro impression at the plate after being picked up from the Pirates and inserted in the leadoff spot for the Nationals, hitting a ridiculous .351 in 191 at-bats before breaking his hand and missing all of September. His batting average has been consistently around .300 at all levels since A-ball so we'd be shocked if he repeats that performance in 2010, but a player who hits .300 with 40-plus steals isn't one you want to ignore at the draft table. He's also capable of better than his 72.1 percent showing (44-for-61) on the basepaths last season, as his 44-for-52 performance at Triple-A in 2008 attests, and with a solid core of power hitters in the Washington lineup behind him headlined by Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn, Morgan has a shot at 100 runs scored as well.

2009

Given a starting opportunity for parts of August and September, Morgan had no problem running with it, literally. After sitting on Pittsburgh's bench coming out of spring training, Morgan went back down to Triple-A and reinvigorated his season. Shortly after stealing five bases in one game for Triple-A Indianapolis, the speedy outfielder was recalled by the Bucs. He hit .347 in 32 games, stealing eight bases while scoring 20 runs. The only Pirates player with top-rate speed, Morgan could see plenty of action to start the 2009 campaign if Brandon Moss (knee) isn't ready. He's not guaranteed playing time, but because of his speed, there's a good chance that he'll spend time in Pittsburgh's outfield -- watch the in-season waiver wire for him if stolen bases are a priority.

2008

Morgan burst onto the major league scene with a host of highlight-reel catches late last summer. He closed out the season with an 11-game hitting streak, raising his average to .299 while stealing seven bases after his September callup. He showed great speed but was undisciplined on the basepaths, and the big question is if he can produce for a full season. Plenty of players impress in September only to become a footnote the following season. Admittedly, he would have been recalled sooner if not for a broken thumb in May. Morgan is already 27, but the former junior hockey player has a history of batting over .300 in the minors. New GM Neal Huntington promises that Morgan will be in the mix for the starting center fielder's spot. He's truly one of Pittsburgh's greatest wild cards entering the 2008 campaign.

2007

Morgan earned a place on the Pirates 40-man roster with an outstanding performance in the Hawaiian Winter League. At 26, his prospect star has dimmed. That said, the speedy center fielder stole 20 bases in 32 games for the Honolulu Sharks. Whether that translates to a bid on Pittsburgh's roster in 2007 remains to be seen. He'll likely start the campaign patrolling center field for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians after batting a combined .304 with 59 steals between High-A Lynchburg and Double-A Altoona. Morgan will need some major breaks to play for the Pirates in 2007 but would be a solid options for steals should he make the jump.