Luis Morales’ Rise Could End Athletics’ International Prospect Drought
Image credit: Luis Morales (Photo by Bill Mitchell)
As the 2024 all-star break neared, Luis Morales didn’t have much on his calendar. The hard-throwing righthander planned to use the downtime to recharge both physically and mentally. But just before the break began, High-A Lansing pitching coach Don Schulze pulled him aside with a proposition.
Morales was given two options.
The first involved heading out to the sweltering Arizona sun to pitch in the Arizona Complex League. The rookie-level team there needed a seasoned presence on the mound—someone who could offer guidance and stability for a few days. Or at least, that’s what he was told.
The second option was far more enticing: a trip to Arlington, Texas, to pitch under the bright lights and air-conditioned roof of Globe Life Field. There, he’d take the mound as the Athletics’ lone representative and the only Cuban invitee in the prestigious 2024 Futures Game.
It wasn’t a difficult decision for Morales.
“It was a one-of-a-kind experience,” Morales said in Spanish to Baseball America. “It brought me a lot of joy to represent my country, the A’s and Latin America. It was an event that motivated me to work harder.”
For an organization that hasn’t developed an international prospect into a mainstay major league contributor in quite some time, Morales represented something more than just a midseason showcase. He was a sign of hope. That moment on the national stage marked a turning point, not just in Morales’ development—he’s since joined the Baseball America Top 100 Prospects list and ranks third in the organization—but in the Athletics’ recent international track record.
He became the first A’s international signee to appear in the Futures Game since Renato Núñez did so in 2014 and 2015. Núñez, however, tallied just 30 at-bats in Oakland before the team placed him on waivers, where he was quickly claimed by AL West rival Texas.
There are other names, but none more telling than those from the much-hyped 2016 A’s international signing class. Lazaro Armenteros, who signed for $3 million, spent seven seasons in the system but never reached the majors and was released in the summer of 2023. Yerdel Vargas, a $1.5 million signee, never hit above .200 in four professional seasons. Marcus Brito, signed for $1.1 million, finished with a career batting average of just .209.
But the most concerning case may be Robert Puason. Touted as a generational talent when he signed out of the Dominican Republic for $5.1 million in 2019, Puason struggled mightily at the plate and never advanced beyond Low-A Stockton. Now, in a last-ditch effort to salvage his career, he’s converted to pitching—his fastball sitting in the high 80s in the Arizona Complex League.
With that recent history, it’s easy to see why there is so much buzz about Morales.
“He pitched in Cuba’s version of the major leagues at just 17 years old,” A’s assistant general manager Dan Feinstein said. “So, he came to us having already endured the rigors and pressures of professional baseball outside of the U.S. We believe that how you perform in Cuba correlates to how you’ll do in the States.
“We’re really happy for the success he’s had and look forward to seeing him at the next level.”
Nearly a year after his Futures Game selection, Morales is knocking on the door of the big leagues. Following a standout 2024 campaign—highlighted by one of the most electric fastballs in the A’s system—he opened the season with Double-A Midland. In eight starts, he posted a 2.98 ERA over 42.1 innings, striking out 53 while issuing just 15 walks. That performance earned him a promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas, where he’s now continuing to refine his craft against seasoned hitters.
While Morales is propelled by his fastball, he’s learned that, to become a true major league pitcher, he needs to learn how to properly deploy his arsenal.
Morales features a sharp mid-80s slider with over a foot of sweep, a fading 84–88 mph changeup and an occasionally-used curveball with depth. The A’s emphasized his slider in 2024, and it’s become his best secondary. When he sequences well, his arsenal flashes swing-and-miss potential.
“I didn’t just want to focus on throwing fast,” Morales said. “I’ve been working really hard on making smart decisions with my pitch delivery and locations.”
But it’s not just Morales’ tantalizing stuff that has the A’s excited. It’s also his calm presence and mature approach that to turn heads as he works to develop his arm.
“That’s one of the things that stands out to me about Luis,” Feinstein said. “He’s a mature, cerebral 22-year-old who is singularly focused on making an impact in the major leagues. He has the right demeanor and composure to withstand the ups and downs of a full season.”
Morales has the potential to be something special for the A’s once he reaches the majors. It’s been a long time since the organization successfully developed an international prospect all the way to the big-league roster—a gap Morales could finally help close.
Beyond Morales, the A’s have a growing pipeline of international talent that’s beginning to draw real attention.
Leading the way is two-way Japanese high school phenom Shotaro Morii, who signed for a record-breaking $1.5 million—the largest bonus ever awarded to a Japanese amateur outside Nippon Professional Baseball.
Taiwanese pitchers Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang, Wei-En Lin and Tzu-Chen Sha have also emerged as standout arms, each showing the potential to contribute at higher levels and adding depth to a system rich in promise.
Further down in the Dominican Summer League, high-upside prospects Edgar Montero (signed in 2024 for $1.2 million) and Ayden Johnson (2025, $1.5 million) are just beginning their professional journeys, offering even more intrigue to the A’s international ranks.
“It starts with your scouts, and we have really good scouts around the globe,” Feinstein said. “Steve Sharpe, who’s our director of international scouting, does a tremendous job coordinating our efforts both in Latin America and Asia.”
Morales, tucked away on the outskirts of town with the Red Rock Mountains rising behind him and the Vegas Strip glimmering in the distance as the backdrop to the A’s future, stands at the intersection of promise and potential.
On the mound, he represents more than just a top prospect—he’s a glimmer of hope for an organization still searching for its next breakthrough in international player development.
And he’s on the verge of making that happen.
“I want to stand out,” Morales said. “I’ve pitched at every level of the minors. I’m really happy with all the work I’ve been able to put in. I’m one step away from the majors and I’m ready to make the best of that opportunity when it arrives.”
