Morales Flashes Versatility For Sharks
Jonathan Morales leaves his batting gloves in the dugout when he’s up at the plate.
After 164 at bats in game situations and countless other opportunities during batting practice, Morales has developed hands that look like they are made of rhino skin.
“If you shake his hand, you’d think you’re shaking a piece of concrete,” said Miami Dade College head baseball coach Danny Price. “His hands are calloused over like a guy that’s been in construction work all his life.”
The anecdote is parallel to Morales’ hardhat mentality on the baseball field. He worked even harder this offseason after only having 80 at bats all of last season, collecting a modest 28 hits, and eight RBI.
Morales’ hard work is paying off. This season, he is batting a team leading .390, with two home runs, 24 RBI, six doubles, nine stolen bases and a .488 slugging percentage.
He’s also provided versatility defensively, playing every infield position except first base. In his second season, Morales accepted the transition from infielder to catcher at the start of the season to set the defensive strategy for the team, but after multiple injuries, he is once again seeing time at shortstop, second base and third base.
Morales has a team high 74 assists, a .968 fielding percentage, and has turned 23 double plays while making only five errors.
“He’s our best catcher, he’s our best shortstop, he’s our best second baseman, our best third baseman, he’s probably our best clutch hitter,“ Price said. “He’s willing to sacrifice himself for the benefit of the team.”
Morales’ teammates have taken notice. They see him taking extra batting practice and fielding grounders after games.
“He leads by example. He goes about his business every day,” said freshman catcher Dakota Robbins, who took over for Morales behind the plate when he shifted back to the infield. “[He] works hard everyday and everyone looks up to him and just respects him very much. When he goes [on the field] we know he’s going to get the job done. Everyone has faith in him no matter what.”
Meanwhile Morales has remained focused on getting the Sharks back to the National Championship game where they fell short last year, losing to Iowa Western College 17-5.
The Sharks are currently 24-19 overall (13-11 in the Southern Conference) fighting to qualify for the State Tournament held on June 7-13 in Lakeland, Florida
“We want to go back again,” Morales said. “We’re not the same team, but we have the same talent and we can do it.”
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The Sharks next home game is April 21 versus Broward College at the Miami Dade College Baseball Field, 11011 S.W 104 St., at 4 p.m.
