Draft and minor leagues (2002–2008) The
Atlanta Braves selected Morton in the third round with the 95th overall selection of the
2002 Major League Baseball draft. He started his professional career in 2002 with the
GCL Braves, and was 1–7. In 2003, he played for the
Danville Braves, and was 2–5. He spent the 2004 and 2005 seasons with the
Rome Braves. In 2006, he pitched for the
Myrtle Beach Pelicans and was 6–7. In 2007, he pitched for the
Mississippi Braves, and was 4–6.
Atlanta Braves (2008) The Braves added Morton to their
40-man roster on November 20, 2007. Morton made his major league debut on June 14, 2008, against the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, allowing three
runs in six innings and earning his first major league
win. In 2008 he was 4–8 with a 6.15 ERA. He made his first start with the Pirates on June 10 pitching an inning against the
Atlanta Braves, while
Jeff Karstens got the win. On June 28, he received his first decision, a loss to the
Kansas City Royals. On July 3, 2009, he won his first game, pitching 6 innings of 1 hit baseball against the
Florida Marlins. On September 30, 2009, he pitched a complete game 4-hitter with 8 strikeouts against the
Chicago Cubs. His 2009 record in 18 starts was 5 wins and 9 losses, a 4.55
ERA, 97 innings pitched, and 62 strikeouts, 40 walks, 7 home runs, 5 hit batsmen, .276 average against, and a 1.46
WHIP. Morton was recalled when starter
Ross Ohlendorf was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a shoulder injury. On his final start of the 2010 season, Morton compiled his finest pitching performance of the year, striking out a career-high nine batters in a 2–0 loss to the
Florida Marlins on October 2. He finished the season with a 2–12 record and a 7.57 ERA, but in his final six starts of the season after being recalled in late August, he sported a 4.26 ERA. 2011 was Morton's best season yet, where he held a 10–10 record in 29 starts with a 3.83 ERA, earning the club's Breakout Player of the Year. On April 15, Morton threw a complete game against the
Cincinnati Reds. On May 18, again at
Great American Ball Park, Morton threw a complete game shutout, striking out 5 and giving up 5 hits. Following the season, Morton underwent successful hip surgery to repair a torn labrum in October 2011 with a full recovery expected in 4–6 months. He was optimistic about returning before Opening Day. However, he began the 2012 season on the disabled list, making his season debut on April 14. His season ended when he underwent
Tommy John surgery on June 14, 2012. On June 13, 2013, Morton was activated off the DL. He picked up his first win of the season on June 18 in a shutout against the
Cincinnati Reds. He pitched innings, giving up only 3 hits and no runs, while striking out 2. On July 22 and 27, he won back-to-back games for the first time since May 7 and 18, 2011. On December 11, 2013, Morton signed a three-year contract to remain with the Pirates, with a club option for the 2017 season. Morton was placed on the DL with right hip inflammation on August 17, 2014. At the time, he was 5–12 with a 3.84 ERA. During September, Morton needed hip surgery, effectively ending his 2014 season. In 26 starts in 2014, Morton hit 19 batsmen with pitches, which led the Majors along with a 6–12 record and a 3.72 ERA. During the 2015 spring training, Morton struggled thoroughly and began to experience inflammation in his recently surgically repaired hip. On April 5, 2015, the Pirates placed Morton on the 15-day disabled list.
Philadelphia Phillies (2016) On December 12, 2015, the Pirates traded Morton to the
Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for David Whitehead. His season came to an abrupt end on April 23, 2016, when Morton suffered a hamstring injury running to first base in a game against the
Milwaukee Brewers and was placed on the disabled list the next day. On April 27, the Phillies announced Morton would miss the rest of the 2016 season with a torn hamstring.
Houston Astros (2017–2018) On November 16, 2016, Morton signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the
Houston Astros. During the
2017 regular season, Morton made 25 starts, compiling a 14–7 record with a 3.62 ERA. He pitched innings and recorded 163 strikeouts. Morton started Game 3 of the
American League Championship Series (ALCS) at
Yankee Stadium. He lost the game, giving up 7 runs in innings. On October 21, he won Game 7 of the ALCS at
Minute Maid Park, pitching five shutout innings with five strikeouts, sending the Astros to the
World Series. Morton started Game 4 of the
World Series and pitched well over innings giving up one earned run on 3 hits and 7 strikeouts in an eventual Astros loss. Morton pitched the final four innings in Game 7 of the World Series. He was credited as the winning pitcher helping the Astros win their first World Series title. Three years later, it was revealed in the
Houston Astros sign stealing scandal that the team had broken MLB rules during the 2017 season. Morton admitted he knew about the team's cheating and expressed regret that he did not do anything to stop it. In
2018, Morton continued his successful stint with the Astros. On May 12, he set a personal record of 14 strikeouts over seven innings in a 6–1 victory against the
Texas Rangers. Entering the All-Star break third in the American League with 11 wins, 11.7 strikeouts per nine innings, and ninth in ERA (2.96), Morton was added to the AL roster for the
2018 MLB All-Star Game. Morton avoided serious injury in 2018, with only a short trip to the 10-day DL for shoulder discomfort. He pitched 167 innings, second only to his 2011 high of . Morton finished the regular season with a 3.13 ERA, a 15–3 win–loss record, and 201 strikeouts, all constituting career highs.
Tampa Bay Rays (2019–2020) On December 21, 2018, the
Tampa Bay Rays signed Morton to a two-year, $30 million contract. He made his debut as a Ray against the
Astros on March 29, 2019, pitching five innings and earning the win. On June 30, he was awarded his second consecutive All-Star appearance. In 2019, he led all major league pitchers in home runs/9 innings pitched, at 0.694. He set career highs in wins (16), ERA (3.05), innings () and strikeouts (240). He finished in third place for the
Cy Young Award. Morton started the American League Wild Card Game against the Oakland Athletics, receiving a win in five innings of work. This was Morton's third career win in winner-take-all playoff games, the most in
MLB playoff history. Morton finished the 2020 year with an ERA of 4.74 over 38 innings. On October 30, 2020, the Rays declined their $15 million team option on his contract for the season, and he was declared a free agent. At the time the Rays made their decision, it was reported that they were looking for a "creative" way to re-sign Morton as a free agent for the following year.
Atlanta Braves (2021–2024) On November 24, 2020, the
Atlanta Braves signed Morton to a one-year, $15 million contract. On September 6, 2021, Morton and the Braves agreed to a one-year extension worth $20 million. In the 2021 regular season, he was 14–6 with a 3.34 ERA and 216 strikeouts in 33 starts. Morton did not play for the remainder of the series. The Braves later won the World Series, giving the Braves their first title since
1995 and Morton his second World Series ring. On September 30, 2022, Morton and the Braves agreed to a one-year contract extension for the 2023 season worth $20 million. Morton recorded at least 200 strikeouts in consecutive seasons with the team, and became the third Atlanta Braves pitcher to have struck out 200 or more batters in multiple seasons. In 2022, he was 9–6 with a 4.34 ERA, as in 31 starts he pitched 172 innings, and threw curveballs 38% of the time, more than any other pitcher in major league baseball. The active career leader in hit batsmen with 156, he hit 18 batters, second in the NL. The Braves picked up the option year on his contract, worth $20 million. On June 28, 2024, Morton became the 22nd pitcher in MLB history to
record a win against all 30 teams, following a scoreless outing against the
Pittsburgh Pirates. On August 13, 2024, Morton became the 89th pitcher in MLB history to reach the 2,000 strikeout mark when he struck out
Mike Yastrzemski in the bottom of the sixth inning against the
San Francisco Giants. In 2024, Morton pitched to a 4.01 ERA and a 8-10 record with 167 strikeouts.
Baltimore Orioles (2025) On January 3, 2025, Morton signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the
Baltimore Orioles. He struggled to an 0-6 record and 10.36 ERA with 20 strikeouts over his first six starts. On April 30, manager
Brandon Hyde announced that Morton would begin pitching primarily out of the
bullpen. He made 23 total appearances (17 starts) for Baltimore, compiling a 7-8 record and 5.42 ERA with 101 strikeouts across innings pitched.
Detroit Tigers (2025) On July 31, 2025, the Orioles traded Morton to the
Detroit Tigers in exchange for
Micah Ashman. On September 19, Morton became the first pitcher to hit 200 batters since 1927 when he hit
Matt Olson on the back foot in the first inning. Morton became the fifth pitcher in Major League history to reach the mark, but the first to pitch entirely in the Live Ball Era. In nine starts for Detroit, he struggled to a 2-3 record and 7.09 ERA with 47 strikeouts across innings pitched. Morton was
designated for assignment by the Tigers on September 21.
Atlanta Braves (2025) On September 22, 2025, Morton signed a major league contract with the
Atlanta Braves. Morton started his last MLB game six days later, recording four outs against the
Pittsburgh Pirates on the final day of the regular season. He only pitched innings as he allowed only two hits and walking one batter while striking out only one batter in his final start of the season and possibly his final MLB start as well. With three different organizations throughout 2025, Morton pitched to a 5.83 ERA and a 9-11 record with 149 strikeouts. ==Pitching style==