Eli Morgan

Morgan was born in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, to Diana and Dave Morgan, a former deputy sports editor for the Los Angeles Times. He has a sister, named Briana. ==High school==

Morgan attended Peninsula High School in Rolling Hills Estates, California. In 2014, as a senior, he had a 10–2 win–loss record with a 1.23 earned run average (ERA). He was named Bay League Co-Pitcher of the Year and All-California Interscholastic Federation First Team. In the summer of 2014, he was 8–0 and an All Star for the Yakima Valley Pippins in the collegiate West Coast League. ==College career==

Morgan enrolled at Gonzaga University, where he played college baseball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs after being offered a spot on the team as a walk-on. In 2015, as a freshman, Morgan pitched to a 1–0 record with a 2.36 ERA (10th in the West Coast Conference; WCC) in 14 appearances (three starts), had a 1.118 WHIP (9th), gave up 1.6 walks/9 innings pitched (4th), and had 4.5 strikeouts/walk (4th). Pitching for the Mat-Su Miners in the collegiate Alaska Baseball League in the summer of 2015, he was 5–0 with an 0.73 ERA, and was named to the All-League Team. In 2020, he was named to the Miners' All-Decade Team. As a sophomore in 2016, Morgan transitioned into a full-time starter, going 10–3 (his 10 wins were 2nd in the Conference) with a 3.73 ERA and 107 strikeouts (4th), and leading the Conference with 3 shutouts in 111 innings over 16 starts, earning him a spot on the All-WCC First Team. After the season, he played in the collegiate Cape Cod League for the Orleans Firebirds. In 2017, his junior season, Morgan compiled a 10–2 record (his 10 wins were again 2nd in the Conference) with a 2.86 ERA in 14 starts, during which he had 2 shutouts (tied for the Conference lead), struck out a Conference-leading 138 batters (2nd-most in school history, and 3rd in the nation) in innings (12.3 strikeouts/9 innings), had a 1.103 WHIP (10th), had 4.45 strikeouts/walk (8th), and was once again named to the All-WCC First Team. He was one of four pitchers in the country with multiple 15-strikeout games. He was also named Perfect Game/Rawlings First Team All-American, Collegiate Baseball Second Team All-American, three-time National Player of the Week, and five-time Rawlings WCC Pitcher of the Week. ==Professional career==

Cleveland Indians / Cleveland Guardians 2017–19 Morgan was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the eighth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Indians for a $135,000 signing bonus. He made his professional debut that season with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the Low–A New York–Penn League, pitching to a 3–2 record with a 1.03 ERA (3rd-lowest in the league) in 35 innings in which he struck out 58 batters (14.9 strikeouts per 9 innings) and had a 0.94 WHIP. He was recognized by Baseball America for having the best changeup in Cleveland's farm system. Morgan began 2018 with the Lake County Captains of the Single–A Midwest League, and was promoted to the Lynchburg Hillcats of the High–A Carolina League in May. In 27 starts between the two clubs, Morgan went 9–7 with a 3.27 ERA, striking out 156 batters in innings (9.8 strikeouts per 9 innings). For the second straight season, he was recognized by Baseball America for having the best changeup in Cleveland's farm system, and he was also named an MiLB.com Organization All Star and the Indians' 2018 Minor League Pitcher of the Year. In 2019, Morgan began the year with Lynchburg before being promoted to the Akron RubberDucks of the Double–A Eastern League in May, with whom Morgan was named a mid-season All-Star. In July, he made one spot start with the Columbus Clippers of the Triple–A International League before being reassigned to Akron, with whom he finished the year. Over 26 games (25 starts) between the three clubs, Morgan went 9–6 with a 3.39 ERA, striking out 146 over innings (9.3 strikeouts per 9 innings). He led the Indians' minor leaguers in innings, was second in strikeouts, and was named an MiLB.com and MLB.com Organization All Star. The Indians added him to their 40-man roster on November 20, 2020. To begin the 2021 season, Morgan returned to Columbus, now members of the newly-formed Triple-A East, with whom he pitched in five games. Baseball America ranked him as having the best command in Cleveland's system. Major leagues The Indians promoted Morgan to the major leagues on May 28, 2021, and he made his major league debut that same day, starting against the Toronto Blue Jays. With winds gusting up to 45 mph in a game called early due to weather, over innings he gave up six earned runs, eight hits (including three doubles), and two walks, and struck out one, and was tagged with the loss as the Indians fell 11–2. Indians manager Terry Francona said: "I don't know how you evaluate that outing. I thought he was going to get blown off the mound.... That was some of the worst conditions I think I've ever seen." Morgan had a lower ERA each successive month of the season, culminating with his five starts in the last month of the season in which he was 3–1 with a 3.90 ERA and held batters to a .240 batting average. For the 2021 Indians, Morgan started 18 games in which he went 5–7 with a 5.34 ERA and 81 strikeouts over innings. Pitching for Cleveland in 2022, Morgan was 5-3 with 10 holds and a 3.38 ERA, as in 50 games (one start) he pitched innings. He gave up 46 hits (holding hitters to a .192 batting average) and 13 walks for an 0.885 WHIP, struck out 72 batters, and had a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 6.09 (fourth in the league). Among American League relievers who pitched 60 or more innings, he had the highest first-strike percentage (70.9%), gave up the second-fewest walks per 9 innings (1.55), had the third-highest strikeout-to-walk ratio, and had the fourth-lowest WHIP. In the post-season, Morgan pitched in the 2022 American League Wild Card Series, where in innings he struck out two batters and did not allow any baserunners. In 2023, Morgan was 5-2 with one save, seven holds, and a 4.01 ERA, as in a career-high 61 games he pitched innings. He struggled to an 0-1 record and 12.27 ERA with four strikeouts over his first seven games, and was placed on the injured list with a right elbow impingement on April 15, 2025. Morgan was transferred to the 60-day injured list on May 10, with what was specified as an inflamed ulnar nerve in his right elbow. He was activated on September 21, and was subsequently optioned to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. On November 21, Morgan was non-tendered by Chicago and became a free agent. Kansas City Royals On January 29, 2026, Morgan signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals. On March 25, the Royals selected Morgan's contract and subsequently optioned him to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers. ==Pitching style==

Morgan has a low-90s four-seam fastball that touches and averages of horizontal movement (which is 48% better than average), an above-average "Bugs Bunny" four-seam changeup, and a slider (one soft version of it in the range, and another version of it in the range). His changeup had an average velocity of , the slowest among major league pitchers who worked at least 40 innings in 2021. In 2022 he threw his fastball half the time and batters hit .205 against it, his changeup a quarter of the time (.184), and his slider 16% of the time (.182). He is known for his command. ==References==