Phillies starting pitcher Adam Morgan has been demoted to Triple-A
A move which does not shock Phillies fans was made official late Thursday evening, as the Phillies sent Adam Morgan back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to work on his craft.
The Phillies official Twitter account confirmed the roster move following Morgan’s seventh loss of the season, as did multiple insiders prior to the official release.
A corresponding move is expected to be made prior to Friday’s game against the Rockies. Relievers Andrew Bailey (hamstring strain) and Daniel Stumpf (PED suspension) were both reunited with the club in Colorado.
A Rule 5 pick by the Phillies in 2016 from the Royals organization, Daniel Stumpf was suspended by Major League Baseball after testing positive for dehydrochlormethyltestosterone. Phillies prospect Alec Asher was also suspended this season after testing positive for the same drug.
Andrew Bailey is the most likely to take Adam Morgan’s roster spot and make his return to the bullpen. He has been on the disabled list since June 23 with a left hamstring strain.
LHP Adam Morgan optioned. Corresponding move to come tomorrow. Should be Andrew Bailey.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) July 8, 2016
Once considered to be among the Phillies top pitching prospects, injuries derailed the 26-year-old Morgan’s career before it started. With a call-up fairly imminent in 2013, Morgan tore his rotator cuff in May, and missed the remainder of the season. After opting not to have surgery immediately, Morgan was forced to sit-out the entire 2014 season as well.
He finally earned his big league debut in June of 2015, and stayed with the club for most of the season despite his poor statistics.
Adam Morgan's career stats heading into Thursday's game and prior to his demotion to Lehigh Valley pic.twitter.com/SpO1d6TF4f
— PHILLIES TBOH (@FS_TBOH) July 8, 2016
Adam Morgan was essentially on borrowed time, and the organization must have had a clear plan in mind when they had Morgan spot-start for Aaron Nola. After being demoted to the bullpen in favor of prospect Zach Eflin, Morgan made two appearances out of the bullpen, allowing one home run, yet striking out four batters in 3.2 innings of relief.
It is unclear whether Morgan will be a starter or reliever in Lehigh Valley, although the assumption would be the Phillies organization no longer sees him as a major league starter.