The predominant story in the Twins’ organization this season has been the rapid rise through the system of starting pitchers. On the heels of David Festa and Zebby Matthews joining the Twins this season, right-hander Andrew Morris has climbed from Class-A Cedar Rapids to Double-A Wichita to the Saints this season, and has shown the same type of promise that led to Festa and Matthews reaching the big leagues. The 22-year-old Morris, a fourth-round draft pick by the Twins out of Texas Tech in 2022, is a combined 17-6 with an earned-run average of 2.
46 since turning professional. He’ll make his third start for the Saints on Saturday, with the first two leading to no decisions. A newlywed in March, Morris said it has been a pretty good year to date.
“Just trying to get better each week out,” Morris said of his approach this season. “It’s been a fun year development-wise and figuring out who I am as a pitcher.” Morris’ repertoire includes a change-up, curveball, slider, cutter and a fastball that he says tops out at 98 miles per hour.
He considers the fastball to be his best pitch. Overall, he has registered 111 strikeouts in 108 1/3 innings this season. Morris said he has been encouraged by seeing the other pitchers move their way up through the system.
Left-hander Christian MacLeod also was promoted to the Saints earlier this month after beginning the season in High Class-A, but he has since been returned to Wichita. “I’ve been kind of chasing Zebby everywher.