MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -The next time Jose Morales walks to the plate, he’ll dig in the box carrying the best career batting average in the history of baseball.
The perfect 1.000.
(He’s 3-for-3.)
With All-Star Joe Mauer starting the season on the disabled list because of a problem in his lower back, Morales is Minnesota’s backup catcher for the time being behind 11-year veteran Mike Redmond. Morales was so moved upon learning he would be included on the 25-man roster, he teared up. So did his parents, when he spoke to them on the phone.
“I’m excited. I’m anxious, but it’s just like any other game,” Morales said before the team worked out at the Metrodome on Sunday morning.
After batting .311 in Triple-A in 2007, Morales was rewarded with his first promotion to the majors. On Sept. 8, after collecting his third hit of the game in Chicago against the White Sox, Morales tore ligaments in his left ankle while running the bases and was promptly done for the season.
rales sprained the same ankle June 12 and was again finished for the year.
“It was definitely frustrating, but I took it like a learning process,” Morales said. “It was tough, but it paid off.”
Mauer’s injury was the opening.
“Nobody wants anybody to get hurt, but it creates an opportunity for other guys,” Redmond said. “That happened to me when I first got to the big leagues. Obviously I’m happy for him, and we’ll see what happens. I’ll be willing to help him.”
Morales’ defense is below average. The 26-year-old, a third-round draft pick in 2001 out of Puerto Rico, was originally a shortstop who moved behind the plate in 2003.
“We wanted to give him the chance,” general manager Bill Smith said last week. “He’s a good fit with Mike Redmond. Morales has actually improved his catching a lot over the past two weeks. The coaching staff has talked to him about cleaning up his catching, and we’re confident he can do the job.”
There’s no doubting his ability to hit. Hey, he’s batting 1.000, at least for now.
But Morales smiled politely and shrugged off the significance of such perfection.
“Last year, I was just thinking about making my way back to the big leagues,” he said, “and not the batting average.”
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