Nick Morabito

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Mets #21 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Morabito did not play at the major high school showcases as a rising senior but popped onto radars in 2022 with a big spring at Gonzaga High in downtown Washington, D.C. Mets area scout Joe Raccuia pegged Morabito as a second-round talent early in the spring, and New York ultimately drafted him 75th overall, using the compensatory pick after the second round it gained when Noah Syndergaard signed with the Angels. The Mets signed Morabito for an over-slot $1 million to steer him away from a Virginia Tech commitment. He looked overmatched--going 2-for-22 with 14 strikeouts--in his pro debut in the Florida Complex League.
  
  Scouting Report: Morabito has a short, compact build and explosive raw power and speed, but his pro debut demonstrates that work is required to realize his potential. Morabito has premium bat speed and is quick to the ball with short levers, but he simply swings and misses in the zone too much. His swing tends to be a bit one-piece and rotational, so the Mets will work to correct his lower-half hitting mechanics. If the development takes, then he could hit about .250 with above-average power output. Morabito's best tool is his speed, with double-plus being the most common grade. He played shortstop in high school and second base at the draft combine, but the Mets are developing him as a center fielder. His high-end speed gives him upside in the outfield, while his quick first step makes him a basestealing threat. His arm is below-average.
  
  The Future: Morabito's promising power-speed combination gives him upside to unlock if he can adjust his swing. His development will take time.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 55. Speed: 70. Fielding: 55. Arm: 40.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #82 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Gonzaga HS, Washington D.C. Committed/Drafted: Virginia Tech
  Age At Draft: 19.2
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Field: 45 | Arm: 40
  Pop-ups in the Mid Atlantic seem to be commonplace in recent years and after Jackson Merrill rocketed up draft boards in 2021, Washington D.C. product Nicholas Morabito has done the same in 2022. Morabito wasn’t seen at many of the highest profile summer showcase and travel ball events last summer, so teams will likely have wide ranging opinions on him. However, he is a strong and compact 5-foot-11, 185-pound hitter with plenty of bat speed and strength. He has short levers and is direct and quick to the ball with no extra or wasted movement pre-pitch or during his load. He can naturally wear out the right-center gap and while he has limited physical projection, has shown plus raw power already. Where Morabito will play is perhaps a bigger question. He has played shortstop and center field, but he has below-average arm strength that might limit him to second base if he sticks on the infield. It’s more likely that he moves to the outfield, where his plus running ability could give him a chance to stick in center. Morabito is old for the class and will be 19 on draft day and an eligible sophomore in 2024 if he makes it to campus at Virginia Tech.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Morabito did not play at the major high school showcases as a rising senior but popped onto radars in 2022 with a big spring at Gonzaga High in downtown Washington, D.C. Mets area scout Joe Raccuia pegged Morabito as a second-round talent early in the spring, and New York ultimately drafted him 75th overall, using the compensatory pick after the second round it gained when Noah Syndergaard signed with the Angels. The Mets signed Morabito for an over-slot $1 million to steer him away from a Virginia Tech commitment. He looked overmatched--going 2-for-22 with 14 strikeouts--in his pro debut in the Florida Complex League.
  
  Scouting Report: Morabito has a short, compact build and explosive raw power and speed, but his pro debut demonstrates that work is required to realize his potential. Morabito has premium bat speed and is quick to the ball with short levers, but he simply swings and misses in the zone too much. His swing tends to be a bit one-piece and rotational, so the Mets will work to correct his lower-half hitting mechanics. If the development takes, then he could hit about .250 with above-average power output. Morabito's best tool is his speed, with double-plus being the most common grade. He played shortstop in high school and second base at the draft combine, but the Mets are developing him as a center fielder. His high-end speed gives him upside in the outfield, while his quick first step makes him a basestealing threat. His arm is below-average.
  
  The Future: Morabito's promising power-speed combination gives him upside to unlock if he can adjust his swing. His development will take time.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 55. Speed: 70. Fielding: 55. Arm: 40.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Morabito did not play at the major high school showcases as a rising senior but popped onto radars in 2022 with a big spring at Gonzaga High in downtown Washington, D.C. Mets area scout Joe Raccuia pegged Morabito as a second-round talent early in the spring, and New York ultimately drafted him 75th overall, using the compensatory pick after the second round it gained when Noah Syndergaard signed with the Angels. The Mets signed Morabito for an over-slot $1 million to steer him away from a Virginia Tech commitment. He looked overmatched--going 2-for-22 with 14 strikeouts--in his pro debut in the Florida Complex League.
  
  Scouting Report: Morabito has a short, compact build and explosive raw power and speed, but his pro debut demonstrates that work is required to realize his potential. Morabito has premium bat speed and is quick to the ball with short levers, but he simply swings and misses in the zone too much. His swing tends to be a bit one-piece and rotational, so the Mets will work to correct his lower-half hitting mechanics. If the development takes, then he could hit about .250 with above-average power output. Morabito's best tool is his speed, with double-plus being the most common grade. He played shortstop in high school and second base at the draft combine, but the Mets are developing him as a center fielder. His high-end speed gives him upside in the outfield, while his quick first step makes him a basestealing threat. His arm is below-average.
  
  The Future: Morabito's promising power-speed combination gives him upside to unlock if he can adjust his swing. His development will take time.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 55. Speed: 70. Fielding: 55. Arm: 40.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  August Update: Pop-ups in the Mid-Atlantic seem to be commonplace in recent years, and after Jackson Merrill rocketed up draft boards to the first round in 2021, Washington D.C. product Nick Morabito has done the same in 2022. He ultimately landed with the Mets in the supplemental second round—the pick gained when free agent Noah Syndergaard signed with the Angels. Morabito wasn&#39t seen at many of the highest-profile summer showcase and travel ball events last summer, so teams will likely have wide-ranging opinions on him. However, he is a strong and compact 5-foot-11, 185-pound hitter with plenty of bat speed and strength. He has short levers and is direct and quick to the ball with no extra or wasted movement pre-pitch or during his load. The righthanded hitter can naturally wear out the right-center field gap and while he has limited physical projection, has shown plus raw power already. Where Morabito will play is perhaps a bigger question. He has played shortstop and center field, but he has below-average arm strength that might limit him to second base if he sticks on the infield. It&#39s more likely that he moves to the outfield, where his plus running ability or better could give him a chance to stick in center. Morabito was old for the class and was 19 on draft day.