Kendrys Morales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kendrys Morales |
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Morales batting for the Kansas City Royals
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| Designated hitter / First baseman | |||
| Born: June 20, 1983 Fomento, Cuba |
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| debut | |||
| May 23, 2006, for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 11, 2019, for the New York Yankees | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .265 | ||
| Home runs | 213 | ||
| Runs batted in | 740 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Kendrys Morales Rodríguez (born June 20, 1983) is a former professional baseball player from Cuba. He played as a designated hitter and first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB). Kendrys played for several teams, including the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics, and the New York Yankees. He even played right field sometimes.
Morales is well-known for winning a Silver Slugger Award in 2015. That same year, he helped the Kansas City Royals win the 2015 World Series championship. He also had a serious ankle injury in 2010 that kept him from playing for almost two years.
Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Playing in Cuba
Kendrys Morales started playing baseball in Cuba. He played in Cuba's top league, which was similar to the Triple-A level in North America. When he was just 16 or 17, he was already a star. He was a starting pitcher and a strong hitter. He could hit home runs from both sides of the plate!
In 2002, Morales joined the Cuba national baseball team. He was the first teenager in nearly 20 years to make the team. He became a key player, helping Cuba win the 2003 Baseball World Cup. In the final game against Taiwan, his grand slam helped Cuba win 6–3.
During his time with the Industriales team in Havana, Morales had an amazing first season. He hit .324 with 21 home runs and 82 runs batted in (RBIs). He set seven rookie records and was named the league's Rookie of the Year.
A New Start: Leaving Cuba
Morales's time with the Cuban national team ended in 2003. He was sent back to Cuba from Panama because he was thought to have contacted a sports agent. Morales said this wasn't true, but after that, he wanted to leave Cuba. He tried to escape several times and even ended up in jail.
In June 2004, he finally escaped on a raft to Florida. To avoid the Major League Baseball draft, which applies to players living in North America, Morales moved to the Dominican Republic. This allowed him to sign with any team as a free agent. In December 2004, the Los Angeles Angels signed him to a six-year deal.
Major League Baseball Career
Starting in the Minors
In 2005, Kendrys Morales began his professional career in the minor leagues. He played for the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and then moved up to Double-A Arkansas. He quickly showed his talent, hitting many home runs.
Los Angeles Angels: Big Hits and a Big Injury
Morales made his Major League Baseball debut on May 23, 2006, with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He played first base and hit a home run in his second time at bat!
His best season with the Angels was in 2009. He hit 34 home runs and had a very high slugging percentage. He was one of the best hitters in the American League and finished 5th in the MVP voting.
However, in 2010, something unfortunate happened. On May 29, Morales hit a walk-off grand slam to win a game. While celebrating with his teammates, he jumped to stomp on home plate. He landed awkwardly and broke his lower left leg. This serious injury needed surgery and kept him out of baseball for almost two years. He missed the rest of the 2010 season and all of 2011.
Morales finally returned to play in 2012. On July 30, 2012, he did something amazing: he hit two home runs in the same inning, one as a left-handed batter and one as a right-handed batter! Only two other players in MLB history had done that before.
Moving Around: Mariners and Twins
On December 19, 2012, the Angels traded Morales to the Seattle Mariners. He continued to hit well for them. In 2013, he hit a walk-off home run against the Kansas City Royals. After hitting it, he made sure to gently step on home plate this time!
In 2014, Morales signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Twins. Later that year, he was traded back to the Seattle Mariners.
Kansas City Royals: World Series Champion!
In December 2014, Morales joined the Kansas City Royals. The 2015 season was a huge success for him and the team. He had 106 RBIs, which was his highest since 2009.
On September 20, 2015, Morales hit three home runs in one game, tying a Royals record! He also set a new Royals record with 15 total bases in that game. In the playoffs, he hit a big three-run homer in a crucial game against the Houston Astros, helping the Royals win.
Morales's great performance in 2015 earned him the Edgar Martínez Award. This award is given every year to the best designated hitter in the American League. He was also a key part of the Royals team that won the 2015 World Series championship!
Toronto Blue Jays: Setting Records
On November 11, 2016, Morales signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2017, he made Blue Jays history by having 4 hits, 3 home runs, and 7 RBIs in a single game.
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In 2018, he even pitched for the first time in an MLB game! He pitched a hitless inning. On July 8, 2018, Morales hit his 200th career home run. He also had an amazing seven-game home run streak from August 19 to August 26, which is the longest in Blue Jays history!
Final Teams and Retirement
In March 2019, the Blue Jays traded Morales to the Oakland Athletics. After a short time there, he was traded again to the New York Yankees in May 2019. He played his last MLB game in June 2019.
Kendrys Morales officially announced his retirement from baseball on February 7, 2020, after playing for 13 seasons in MLB.
Personal Life
Kendrys Morales is married to Yarley, and they have two children named Hanely and Kendrys Jr. He also has an older daughter named Andrea from a previous relationship. For a while, his name was spelled "Kendry Morales" professionally because of a mistake.
See also
In Spanish: Kendrys Morales para niños
