Adam Morrissey

Adam Morrissey (born 8 June 1981 in Gosford, New South Wales) is an Australian minor league baseball player. He is currently an infielder with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Professional career
Morrissey made history when he became the youngest player in the Australian Baseball League at age 15, underperforming at a .179/.233/.214 clip in 12 games for the Hunter Eagles in the 1996-97 Australian Baseball League season His status as the youngest player in the ABL was short-lived as Rikki Johnston debuted shortly thereafter.
Morrissey had also played for the Australian junior national team. He improved to .250/.416/.400 for the Eagles in 1997-1998 but fielded a very average .810. In 1999, he made his professional US debut with the AZL Cubs, batting a .296/.374/.409 clip. In the 1999-2000, he played for NSW Country in the International Baseball League of Australia, batting .277/.373/.354. During the US season, he hit a powerful .275/.374/.428 and was 5th in the Northwest League with 115 total bases for the Eugene Emeralds. He was back in the off-season for the IBLA of 2000-2001, he would not play in the Australian leagues again through 2008.
Adam had a great 2001 for the Lansing Lugnuts, posting a batting line of .309/.427/.524. He did not have a set position, being moved between second base, third base and the outfield. He was second in the Midwest League in OBP behind Jason Maule and third in walks. After the season, the Chicago Cubs traded him to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Mark Bellhorn.
Morrissey split his first year in the A's organisation between the Modesto A's (.291/.383/.418) and Midland RockHounds (.235/.323/.311).
In 2003, the Gosford born New South Welshman spent a full year with Midland, posting a batting line of .267/.335/.365 and stealing 9 bases in 10 tries. In the season of 2004, Morrissey was promoted and made his AAA debut for the Sacramento RiverCats, hitting .291/.358/.431 for a solid season; more importantly, he picked up his previously poor defence, posting a .977 average in 79 games at 2B. Sacramento won the Pacific Coast League title. Morrissey dropped off in 2005, hitting .240/.270/.331 in 34 games for Midland and .250/.346/.351 in 55 for Sacramento.
Adam was moved to the Texas Rangers organisation in 2006 and spent time with both the Oklahoma RedHawks (.236/.296/.332 clip) and Frisco RoughRiders (.313/.387/.457 clip), in his time at Texas, he threw 1 defensive inning, earning his team the win. In 2007, he was again moved, this time to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organisation, playing for the Arkansas Travelers and batting .263/.396/.383. He led the Texas League in walks (94). His glovework had improved to the point where he led the TL's second basemen in fielding percentage (.985) and double plays (79).
Morrissey split 2008 between Arkansas (.280/.347/.421 in 78 games) and the Salt Lake Bees (.299/.376/.543 in 32 games). He was on the provisional Australian roster for the 2009 World Baseball Classic and was a possibility to debut for Australia but did not make the final cut.
 
< Prev   Next >