Nyjer Morgan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nyjer Morgan |
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Morgan with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in 2013
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: July 2, 1980 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: September 1, 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| NPB: March 28, 2013, for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars | |||
| KBO: March 29, 2015, for the Hanwha Eagles | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| NPB: September 19, 2013, for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars | |||
| MLB: May 14, 2014, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| KBO: April 10, 2015, for the Hanwha Eagles | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .282 | ||
| Home runs | 12 | ||
| Runs batted in | 136 | ||
| Stolen bases | 120 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .294 | ||
| Home runs | 11 | ||
| Runs batted in | 50 | ||
| KBO statistics | |||
| Batting average | .273 | ||
| Home runs | 0 | ||
| Runs batted in | 5 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Nyjer Jamid Morgan (born July 2, 1980) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. These included the Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Nationals, Milwaukee Brewers, and Cleveland Indians. He also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. Later, he played in the KBO League for the Hanwha Eagles. Morgan mostly played center field during his MLB career.
When he was younger, Morgan played ice hockey. He even reached a high level in junior ice hockey with the Regina Pats. This was during the 1999–2000 WHL season. After that season, Morgan decided to focus only on baseball. The Pirates then chose him in the 2002 MLB draft.
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Early Life and Sports
Nyjer Morgan was born in San Francisco, California. When he was seven, he became very interested in ice hockey. He watched the hockey tournament at the 1988 Winter Olympics on TV.
By age 16, Morgan had played in many hockey tournaments. He was recruited by the Vernon Vipers in Canada. He played a few games with them in the 1996–97 season. He also played for other junior hockey teams. These included the North Okanagan Knights and the Nelson Leafs. He also played for the Delta Ice Hawks.
In the 1999–2000 season, Morgan joined the Regina Pats. This was a major junior hockey team. In his first game, he scored two goals. He was even named the game's top player. After seven games, he left the Pats. He then played briefly for the Prince George Spruce Kings.
Baseball Career Highlights
Nyjer Morgan had a long and interesting career in professional baseball. He played for teams in the United States, Japan, and South Korea.
Pittsburgh Pirates Years
The Pittsburgh Pirates picked Morgan in the 2002 MLB draft. He made his major league debut on September 1, 2007. This was against the Milwaukee Brewers.
On September 14, 2007, Morgan made an amazing catch. It helped the Pirates win a close game. Many people compared it to Willie Mays' famous "The Catch." Morgan also showed his skills on September 20. He got two stolen bases and threw out a runner from the outfield. His first home run came on September 25.
In 2009, Morgan became the Pirates' starting left fielder. He was very popular with fans. He often called left field "Morgantown." That year, he stole 42 bases. This was the second-highest in the league.
Washington Nationals Experience
On June 30, 2009, Morgan was traded to the Washington Nationals. He joined pitcher Sean Burnett in the trade. On August 27, he broke his hand sliding into third base. This put him on the injured list.
In a game on May 22, 2010, Morgan had a memorable moment. He misjudged a fly ball, which led to an inside-the-park home run. He was upset and threw his glove. On July 22, 2010, he became the first Nationals player to steal three bases in one game. For the 2010 season, he was third in the league with 34 stolen bases.
Morgan was involved in some on-field incidents in 2010. On August 25, he received a suspension for an interaction with a fan. On August 31, he collided with a catcher, causing an injury. The next day, after being hit by a pitch, Morgan charged the mound. This led to a bench-clearing disagreement. MLB suspended him for eight games and fined him. He finished the 2010 season with a .253 batting average.
Milwaukee Brewers Success
On March 27, 2011, Morgan was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. He shared center field duties with Carlos Gómez. On June 8, Morgan hit his first walk-off hit. This was a double that won the game for the Brewers. He later said he didn't realize it was a walk-off hit until his teammates ran onto the field. In 2011, he batted .304.
On October 7, Morgan had another walk-off hit. This one came in Game 5 of the 2011 National League Division Series. It helped the Brewers win the series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. This was the Brewers' first playoff series win since 1982.
While with the Brewers, Morgan sometimes called himself "Tony Plush." He said this was his "name on the field." In 2012, he batted .239. The Brewers did not offer him a contract for the 2013 season.
Playing in Asia
In January 2013, Morgan signed to play for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Japan. He batted .294 with 11 home runs in 108 games.
On January 14, 2014, Morgan signed a contract with the Cleveland Indians. He started the 2014 season as their starting center fielder. However, he injured his knee on May 14 and was later released.
In December 2014, he signed with the Hanwha Eagles in South Korea. He played for them in 2015.
Mexican League Play
In December 2015, Morgan signed with the Pericos de Puebla in the Mexican League. In 2016, he batted .306 and stole 22 bases. He was named to the Mexican League All-Star team. His team, Puebla, won its first league championship in 30 years.
In 2017, Morgan was traded to Acereros de Monclova. He played only a few games for them.
Personal Life
In 2011, Nyjer Morgan started his own Twitter account. He often shared funny pictures, like one of himself dressed as a cowboy. He had many followers and often used his catchphrase "AAAAAHHHH GOTTA GO!" after games.
Morgan has a daughter named Niah. She was born in Regina, Canada, when he played hockey there. He also has a son, born in 2017. On October 4, 2018, Morgan threw the first pitch at a playoff game for the Milwaukee Brewers. This was on his son's first birthday. The Brewers won that game. He was invited back to throw the first pitch again on October 4, 2023, for another playoff game.
On February 1, 2012, Morgan got to practice with the San Jose Sharks hockey team. He said it was a "dream come true." Even All-Star player Joe Thornton said Morgan was "actually a pretty good skater."
See also
In Spanish: Nyjer Morgan para niños
