Franklin Morales

2013

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2012

Morales spent the 2011 season pitching out of the bullpen in Colorado and then Boston. He had more success with Boston and that was the direct result of improving his control. He was still hittable, but Morales dropped his BB/9 rate with the Red Sox and became one of several left-handed relievers looking to fill a role that became a season-long need for Boston. He was the most effective of the bunch, particularly in August, but remains unproven over longer stretches. He reportedly pitched well in Venezuela during the offseason. The Red Sox will no doubt be looking for reliable relief from the left side, so there's an opening for Morales.

2011

Morales started the 2010 season as the Rockies' fill-in closer for Huston Street, but he proved ineffective before a shoulder injury eventually knocked him from that role. He rejoined the team again in June, but posted a 7:10 K:BB ratio and was optioned to the minors to work on his arsenal. His numbers at Triple-A Colorado Springs were encouraging as he pitched 30.1 innings with a 2.67 ERA and 10.1 K/9IP. However, he was unable to shake the control issues that have pained him through his short career as he posted a 5.6 BB/9IP walk rate there. He resurfaced in September with 10.0 K/BB ratio, giving hope that he might be useful in the back end of the Rockies' bullpen in 2011. Until he curbs his appetite for walks, he's best left untouched by fantasy owners.

2010

At the beginning of the season, Morales revealed to the team that he had been struggling through back pain throughout the 2008 season. He showed up to camp healthy, before a left shoulder strain kept him off the field until June, when he returned to the minors for a rehab stint. There, he was able to regain velocity in time to resurface in Colorado to fill in for closer Huston Street. At one point, he was considered one of the better pitching prospects in all of baseball, but that hype has faded a bit. He's only 24, so there's still plenty of sleeper potential here, but it looks like the Rockies are planning on using him as a reliever. He's a better choice to take over the closer's role from Street than the likes of Manny Corpas and Taylor Buchholz, so consider him in the endgame as a cheap staff filler with saves potential.

2009

His success in the majors at the end of 2007 didn't serve him well last season, as he likely wasn't ready for a rotation job in April. He washed out, then pitched awfully at Triple-A. Just 23, there's plenty of time for him to spend a full year at Triple-A working on his mechanics. Think of him more as a keeper league pick and expect little, if anything, in 2009.

2008

The extremely talented southpaw broke into the major leagues in 2007 at the age of 21. With the Colorado rotation decimated by injuries they turned to the youngster. He went 3-2 in eight major league starts and posted a 26:14 K:BB in 39.2 innings. He has an electric fastball that reaches the high 90's to go along with an excellent curveball and improving changeup. His pitches move so much that Morales has a hard time controlling them. The Rockies may elect to have him spend some time at Triple-A to get more seasoning, but it won't be long before he is a staple in the rotation.