Can Christopher Morel be a Long-Term Solution in Center Field?

Chicago Cubs' rookie Christopher Morel has been a beacon of light in a grim 2022 season. Is he the club's future in center field?

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After nearly 300 Major League plate appearances, it's evident that Christopher Morel's bat plays at the big league level.

A super utility player from the Dominican Republic, Morel has experience at nearly every position on the diamond, barring first base, pitcher, and catcher. 

With no clear option at center field in 2022, the Chicago Cubs opted for Morel to take a bulk of the starts at the most important outfield position. It's a spot he had only logged 432 innings at before coming to the Major Leagues.

So Morel learned on the fly, catching up on on both his hitting and his defense at the big league level. It's something Cubs' manager David Ross is keenly aware of.

"Moving him around the field, his skill set, the tools show up daily," Ross said in an article by Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. "He’s still learning some moments."

It's clear in the defensive stats that Morel is still lacking as an outfielder. While his speed can make up for his lack of defensive fundamentals, he could serve to improve the jump he gets on fly balls.

Both defensive runs saved (DRS) and Statcast's outs above average (OAA) agree, Morel has room for improvement. Ranked in the sixth percentile in OAA and carrying -5 DRS at center field, he's hurting the team defensively.

It's hard to criticize a rookie so new to his position and MLB as a whole, but Morel is already one of the worst defensive center fielders volumetrically, having played just a quarter of a season at the position.

Luckily for the 23-year-old, he's a solidly competent defender at both second and third base. There's a future for him defensively in the infield if the Cubs have an opening.

However, a center fielder than can slash .260/.331/.464 with an OPS+ of 120, is far more valuable than a third, or even second baseman who can do so.

Morel still has time. As one of MLB's youngest players, he's still ripe for development. The game is full of players who's begun their career weak defensively and improved.

One shining example of that in recent Cubs history is Kris Bryant. He's improved by 13 runs according to DRS from his rookie season to his sophomore season. Eight of those runs came at his primary position third base.

In 2015, Bryant was a negative defender. Worth -5 runs at third base alone, the 2015 Rookie of the Year turned into the 2016 NL MVP, becoming a more complete player on defense as well as offense.

The Cubs don't need Morel to win an MVP, or even a Gold Glove in center field. As long as he can make the plays an average center fielder should make, Morel could be one of the most valuable players in the National League.

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