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Christopher Morel

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Christopher Morel
Morel with the Rays in 2024
New York Mets
Utility player
Born: (1999-06-24) June 24, 1999 (age 27)
Santiago, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 17, 2022, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
(through June 10, 2026)
Batting average.220
Home runs74
Runs batted in211
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Christopher Rafael Morel (born June 24, 1999) is a Dominican professional baseball utility player in the New York Mets organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, and Miami Marlins. Morel signed with the Cubs as an international free agent in 2015, and made his MLB debut with them in 2022.

Professional career

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Chicago Cubs

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Minor leagues

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Morel signed with the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent on August 23, 2015. In 2017, he was assigned to the Cubs team of the Dominican Summer League.[1] In 61 games, he slashed .220/.332/.359 with seven home runs, 40 runs batted in (RBI), 44 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases. He spent the 2018 season with Low–A Eugene Emeralds, and Rookie League AZL Cubs. In 54 games, he batted .216 with 44 hits, eight doubles and three home runs. He spent the 2019 season with the Single-A South Bend Cubs. In 73 games, he batted .284, with 73 hits, 15 doubles, seven triples, and six home runs.

He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] The Cubs added Morel to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft on November 20, 2020.[3] He spent the 2021 season with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, and Triple-A Iowa Cubs. In 111 games, he batted .223 with 90 hits, 18 doubles, 5 triples, and a career-high 18 home runs.[4]

Major leagues

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Morel started the 2022 season with Double-A Tennessee but was recalled to the major leagues on May 17. Morel made his major league debut later that day, and hit a home run in his first career at-bat during a 7–0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.[5] Morel appeared in 113 games for the Cubs in his rookie campaign, slashing .235/.308/.433 with 16 home runs, 47 runs batted in (RBI), and 10 stolen bases.

The Cubs optioned Morel to Triple-A Iowa to begin the 2023 season.[6] They promoted him to the major leagues on May 8, 2023, after he batted .330/.425/.730 with 11 home runs and 31 RBIs over 29 games.[7] Upon his promotion, Morel became the first Cub in franchise history to record nine home runs in his first 12 games of a season on May 23, 2023.[8] In 107 games for the Cubs, he slashed .247/.313/.508 with 26 home runs and 70 RBI.[9]

Morel made 103 appearances for Chicago in 2024, hitting .199/.302/.373 with 18 home runs, 57 RBI, and 7 stolen bases.[10]

Tampa Bay Rays

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On July 28, 2024, the Cubs traded Morel, Hunter Bigge, and Ty Johnson to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Isaac Paredes.[11][12] In 49 games for Tampa Bay in 2024, Morel batted .191/.258/.289 with three home runs and nine RBI.[13] His combined batting average of .196 was the worst in the major leagues.[14]

Morel made 105 appearances for Tampa Bay during the 2025 season, slashing .219/.289/.396 with 11 home runs, 33 RBI, and seven stolen bases. He was designated for assignment by the Rays on November 18, 2025.[15] On November 21, Morel was non-tendered by Tampa Bay and became a free agent.[16]

Miami Marlins

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On December 18, 2025, Morel signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Miami Marlins.[17] Prior to Miami's Opening Day matchup against the Colorado Rockies, Morel was scratched from the lineup due to an oblique injury.[18] On March 28, 2026, he was ruled out for 4-to-6 weeks due to an oblique strain.[19] Upon returning from injury, Morel played in 22 games for Miami, slashing .162/.219/.206 with one RBI and one stolen base. He was designated for assignment by the Marlins on June 21, following Griffin Conine's return from injury.[20][21] Morel was released by Miami on June 26.[22]

New York Mets

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On July 1, 2026, Morel signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets.[23]

Personal life

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Morel's brother, Rafael, played with the Cubs organization from 2019 through 2025.

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Christopher Morel Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  2. ↑ Adler, David (June 30, 2020). "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  3. ↑ Gonzales, Mark (November 20, 2020). "Chicago Cubs add 3 to their 40-man roster, leaving 3 spots open for free-agent signings or trade acquisitions". Chicago Tribune.
  4. ↑ "Christopher Morel Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  5. ↑ Anderson, R.J. (May 18, 2022). "Cubs' Christopher Morel homers in first MLB at-bat as Chicago wins blowout vs. Pirates". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  6. ↑ Lee, Maddie (March 27, 2023). "Opening Day roster projection: A flurry of moves illuminates Cubs' decisions". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Christopher Morel joining Cubs". mlb.com. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Chicago Cubs' Christopher Morel Makes Team History on Sunday". si.com. May 21, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Christopher Morel 2023 batting Stats Per Game - MLB". espn.com. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Cubs acquire All-Star Isaac Paredes in blockbuster trade with Rays". NBC Chicago. July 28, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  11. ↑ Berry, Adam; Stone, Jackson (July 28, 2024). "Cubs acquire All-Star Paredes from Rays for Morel, 2 prospects". mlb.com. MLB. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  12. ↑ Rogers, Jesse (July 28, 2024). "Cubs acquire All-Star Isaac Paredes in trade with Rays". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Christopher Morel Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  14. ↑ "2024 Major League Leaders," Fangraphs.
  15. ↑ "Rays part ways with outfielders Christopher Morel, Jake Fraley". Bay News 9. November 19, 2025. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  16. ↑ Berry, Adam (November 21, 2025). "Rays non-tender Morel, Fraley, avoid arb with Sulser; 12 others tendered contracts". MLB.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  17. ↑ De Nicola, Christina (December 18, 2025). "Marlins take flyer on Morel to play 1B with 1-year deal". MLB.com. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Marlins To Recall Deyvison De Los Santos For MLB Debut". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  19. ↑ De Nicola, Christina (March 28, 2026). "Morel (left oblique strain) placed on IL; De Los Santos recalled". MLB.com. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Marlins designate Morel for assignment, put Hicks on IL". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 21, 2026. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  21. ↑ De Nicola, Christina (June 21, 2026). "Conine reinstated from IL; Morel designated for assignment". MLB.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Marlins Release Christopher Morel". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  23. ↑ https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/06/mets-sign-christopher-morel.html
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