Morris caps strong camp with scoreless outing: 'Pretty lights out'

DUNEDIN, Fla. – Twins starting pitcher Andrew Morris continued to turn heads with three scoreless innings in Tuesday afternoon’s 3-2 loss to the Blue Jays at TD Ballpark.

Morris allowed one hit and zero walks and struck out three, including All-Stars Anthony Santander and Bo Bichette.

Asked what the best lineup he has ever faced was, Morris didn’t hesitate: “That one. … I was really trying not to pay attention to who was at the plate. That was the focus of mine … just focusing on executing pitches.”

Morris, the Twins’ No. 9 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was reassigned to Minor League camp after the game and is expected to begin the season with Triple-A St. Paul. He didn’t allow a run in seven innings of Grapefruit League games.

When Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli was asked if he expected to see Morris called up in 2025, he said, “If he’s throwing the ball like this, I would absolutely expect to see him at some point this year. …

“He’s pitched pretty lights out. He’s used all of his pitches. They all look like where he wants them. He’s been very productive. He’s got a lot of different weapons. He’s got a fastball that cuts on hitters. He’s got pretty good command and is a good adjustment-maker.”

Morris, a fourth-round Draft pick out of Texas Tech in 2022, posted a 2.37 ERA in 26 outings (24 starts) at three Minor League levels last year.

Tuesday, Morris got Bichette swinging on a sinker, Santander looking on a four-seam fastball away and Daulton Varsho swinging on a four-seamer.

“This is the best preparation I can have facing these guys – the best of the best," Morris said. "So it’s just really exciting to face them. … But you’ve just got to try to attack them in the zone, and not be too perfect and too fine. That’s what I was focusing on today, and I thought it worked pretty well.”

Morris also talks to himself on the mound. When informed that Tigers 1976 All-Star rookie Mark “The Bird” Fidrych set the standard in that regard, Morris said he was going to have to research a pitcher who ended up on the cover of both Rolling Stone and Sports Illustrated.

“I definitely talk to myself out there,” said Morris, who said he’s “pretty much” reaffirming what he’s doing on the mound. “‘Did I fully trust the slider? Did I leave it up?’”

Now, it’s back to Triple-A.

“I’m just trying to prove myself to them and come in and work hard,” said Morris, “and continue to show that I can compete at that level and stay consistent, hit on my goals, and not try to do too much.”

Castellano’s Rule 5 road
Twins pitcher Eiberson Castellano is the classic Rule 5 charmer.

Does a team – a contender, no less -- take a chance on an inexperienced player for the entire season or return the Rule 5 Draft pick to his previous team, the Phillies?

“We’re giving him a thorough look,” said Baldelli. “He’s a guy who stood out to our organization in a pretty big way. … We think he has a lot of ability. He does have very good stuff. What’s coming out of his hand is real. He has a mid-90s fastball that gets higher at times. He has a very good breaking ball. He’s thrown a ton of strikes. He’s got good feel for what he’s doing.

“He has all the makings of a guy that can make it and do it.”

Castellano, 23, from Maracaibo, Venezuela, hasn’t pitched above Double-A – where he got Minnesota’s attention by striking out 50 with just nine walks in 40 1/3 innings in 2024.

Castellano allowed two runs on one hit and three walks in 1 1/3 innings while striking out two against Toronto. He has a 9.00 ERA after six innings in four Grapefruit League outings.

How is he getting himself to relax?

“Being a Rule 5 guy is something that is pressing on my mind,” said Castellano, with assistant hitting coach Rayden Sierra serving as interpreter. “I understand relaxing myself as much as I can. I go about that by telling myself, ‘Do what you’ve always done. Just pitch, try to relax and let things take care of themselves.’”

Castellano got both punchouts with curves.

“I feel really good about that,” said Castellano. “I feel that is one of my best pitches right there with the fastball. And I’m working on my changeup.”