Kade Morris Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

IP	18.1
ERA	2.45
WHIP	1.25
BB/9	2.95
SO/9	9.33

Full name Kade Tanner Morris
Born 06/21/2002 in Modesto, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 170 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Nevada
Drafted in the 3rd round (101st overall) by the New York Mets in 2023 (signed for $666,500).

View Draft Report

School: Nevada Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.1
BA Grade:40/High
Tools:Fastball: 50. Slider: 50. Curveball: 45. Changeup: 50. Control: 55.

A 6-foot-3, 190-pound righthander with physical projection remaining, Morris has a strong foundation as a starter thanks to a deep mix of quality pitches. After mostly pitching as a reliever with Nevada during his first two seasons, Morris started three games during the 2022 summer for Cotuit in the Cape Cod League, where he ranked as the No. 18 prospect, and pitched with Team USA’s Collegiate National Team. He started 14 games with Nevada in 2023 and posted a 5.42 ERA in 81.1 innings with a 22.5% strikeout rate and 7.1% walk rate. While Morris doesn’t have elite swing-and-miss stuff, he does throw both a four-seam and two-seam fastball, and in 2023 he averaged 93 mph and touched 97. He throws a mid-80s slider that generated a 39% whiff rate and also has a slower, mid-70s curveball that is more of a change-of-pace offering. He’s got a mid-80s changeup that is used mostly versus lefthanders. Morris finds his success by changing eye level and forcing hitters into driving the ball on the ground, though he managed a career-low 42.1% groundball rate in 2023 after being close to 50% in his first two seasons. He’s got above-average control and profiles as a back-end starter.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: Morris pitched primarily relief during his first two seasons at nevada but made a memorable start late in his sophomore season. He pitched 8.2 strong innings against rival nevada-Las Vegas in the elimination game of the Mountain West Conference finals. Morris moved to the rotation in 2023 and struck out 85 in 81.1 innings and posted a 5.42 ERA that looks better in light of the extreme hitting environments of the MWC, where the overall ERA was 6.08. The Mets drafted Morris with the final pick of the third round and signed him for slot value of $666,500. He made two abbreviated starts in his pro debut.

Scouting Report: Morris has a deep and well-rounded repertoire, a history of throwing strikes and an athletic 6-foot-3 frame that will fit in a pro rotation. He favored his two-seam fastball and slider in college but has a true four-pitch mix. Morris sits at 93 mph and has touched as high as 97 in the past, focusing more on generating weak groundball contact than blowing the ball past hitters up in the zone. His mid-80s slider is his go-to pitch for whiffs and has above-average potential. Morris upsets hitters’ timing with a mid-70s curveball and mid-80s changeup, which both have flashed solid-average potential. He will need to throw those pitches more often--and maybe a four-seam fastball as well--to reach his upside. He ties together his repertoire of average pitches with above-average control.

The Future: Morris’ athleticism, arm strength and clean delivery should take him far in pro ball, potentially to the back of a big league rotation if he continues improving. Getting him out of Reno and into a more neutral run environment in the Mets’ system could help him see better results across his repertoire.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55

Draft Prospects

School: Nevada Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.1
BA Grade:40/High
Tools:Fastball: 50. Slider: 50. Curveball: 45. Changeup: 50. Control: 55.

A 6-foot-3, 190-pound righthander with physical projection remaining, Morris has a strong foundation as a starter thanks to a deep mix of quality pitches. After mostly pitching as a reliever with Nevada during his first two seasons, Morris started three games during the 2022 summer for Cotuit in the Cape Cod League, where he ranked as the No. 18 prospect, and pitched with Team USA’s Collegiate National Team. He started 14 games with Nevada in 2023 and posted a 5.42 ERA in 81.1 innings with a 22.5% strikeout rate and 7.1% walk rate. While Morris doesn’t have elite swing-and-miss stuff, he does throw both a four-seam and two-seam fastball, and in 2023 he averaged 93 mph and touched 97. He throws a mid-80s slider that generated a 39% whiff rate and also has a slower, mid-70s curveball that is more of a change-of-pace offering. He’s got a mid-80s changeup that is used mostly versus lefthanders. Morris finds his success by changing eye level and forcing hitters into driving the ball on the ground, though he managed a career-low 42.1% groundball rate in 2023 after being close to 50% in his first two seasons. He’s got above-average control and profiles as a back-end starter.