The 2021 MLB Draft will begin on July 11, 2021, in Atlanta, Ga. We take a look at Boston College shortstop Cody Morissette, a formidable member of one of the most scary one-two punches in college baseball.
Make sure to check out all of our other MLB Draft Profiles.
Cody Morissette, SS, Boston College
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 175 lbs.
Age: 21
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
2019: 58G, .320/.371/.476, 74 H, 41 RBI, 4 HR
2020: 15G, .448/.522/.655, 26 H, 11 RBI, 2 HR
2021: 34G, .287/.377/.463, 39 H, 28 RBI, 5 HR
Scouting Grades
Hit: 60
Power: 45
Run: 50
Field: 50
Throw: 50
Hitting is the best part of Morissette’s game and will likely be what makes him a second- or third-round pick rather than falling much further. His power and running aren’t great, but these are two areas in which he has potential and could grow. As for defensively, he can be a liability at third base or shortstop but projects much nicer at second base.
Strengths
As already mentioned, Morissette’s bat is his top tool. He’s an overall balanced and well-rounded hitter who has a smooth approach and good swing. He also has the results at the plate to back this up. Morisette has matured greatly at the plate, meaning he’s a smart batter with such a polished swing. Scouts will love this, and it will likely bump up his value. While this means he may not have much more room for growth, that’s an acceptable trade-off.
In the field, Morissette has a solid arm from second base, where he likely projects long-term. His intelligence at the plate translates to the field, where he boasts good awareness and intelligence. He frequently looks comfortable when patrolling the infield and projects to be a reliable second baseman down the road.
Weaknesses
On to the negatives. Morissette possesses some concerns in the infield as he sometimes has trouble fielding balls to the right. This both poses an inconvenience and makes it significantly harder to make a balanced throw to first base. This likely moves the New Hampshire native away from the left side of the infield long-term, allowing him to focus solely on second base. Having a clear role is important, but being restricted to just one position due to a weakness stings a little.
There are also some questions about Morissette’s power. He’s underweight and has been able to hold his own, but it’s an aspect that certainly deserves careful consideration. It will be interesting to see if he grows more or if he has maxed out in the size department. As for baserunning, he is just average on the bases and doesn’t boast anything that would stun onlookers, either.
Pro Comparison: Ben Zobrist
Morissette and Zobrist present similar baseball makeups. The latter was once a sixth-round pick who spent 14 years in the Majors and earned three All-Star selections. They both have a tendency to find the gaps, be smart at the plate, and share a similar positional and characteristic makeup. Of course, Zobrist was slightly bigger, checking in at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds. Still, there are clear similarities between the two.
Draft Projection: Early Third Round
A lot could change between now and the MLB Draft, but the early consensus is that Morissette projects as a second baseman and, since he’s being restricted to just one position, won’t be drafted as high as some had initially hoped. Still, he has a really solid bat with good maturity at the plate and the ability to be an all-around well-rounded player with just a few more years of development.
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Main Image Credit: Stew Milne/AP
