Senior Signs Pro Contract

David J. Morgan '94, Harvard varsity first baseman of three years, became a professional baseball player this month, perhaps putting his academic career on hold to pursue the dream of making it to the major leagues.

An 18th round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays, Morgan signed a deal for an undisclosed amount and has reported to the team's affiliate in the town of Medicine Hat in Alberta, Canada. Morgan now plays in the Pioneer League, a level exclusively for rookies.

"My batting average is not too bad, considering I'm not hitting very well," Morgan said last night from the clubhouse in Medicine Hat, where his team's game was rained out. "The pitchers are good--a lot better than anything I've seen."

Morgan makes $850 a month, and rent in the house where he boards swallows up $150 a month. He says minor league baseball is a lot more serious than it has been portrayed in movies like "Bull Durham."

"That's a little fantasized. You get the long bus rides and then you play baseball," said Morgan. "It's a business. But it's fun, don't get me wrong."

Morgan, the Ivy League player of the year, was one of three Harvard ballplayers selected in baseball's June 3 amateur draft. Michael L. Hill '93 was taken in the 31st round by the Texas Rangers, signed almost immediately, and has reported to the Erie (Penn.) Sailors. Jeffrey S. Mitchell '94 was picked by the Montreal Expos.

Morgan said he would graduate from Harvard at some point, though probably not next spring.

He said he will likely attend an instructional camp after the Medicine Hat season concludes at the end of the summer.

"He knows he'll graduate from Harvard," said his mother, Colleen Morgan. "When, he doesn't know."

In the end, the uncompromising style of Harvard baseball coach Leigh P. Hogan may have driven Morgan to go pro.

While Morgan considers himself a catcher and was drafted as such by the Blue Jays, Hogan played him at first base. In Medicine Hat, he will catch.

"That's the position he's wanted to play for three years," his mother said.

With a dearth of quality backstops playing at the major league level, catchers, in general, stand a better chance of advancing to the major leagues.

"Yeah, it's the quickest way," said Morgan. "You also got to understand that's still not that quick. The quickest way is still four or five years."

Medicine Hat presents some unique challenges for the minor league baseball player. The town's location in the hinterlands of Alberta place it far away from many of its opponents.

And the Blue Jays, who recruit extensively in Latin America, have often used the tiny Canadian town as a refuge to test the mettle of their best prospects, some of whom know little English.

"It's fun and it's interesting," said Morgan. "You think there would be a language barrier, and that has an effect off the field. But on the field, the communication is great."

Morgan said he is enjoying the new environment and working hard. He won't say, however, what the Blue Jays paid him as a signing bonus. Morgan had an important bargaining chip: he could always return to Harvard in the fall, leaving the Toronto organization empty-handed.

"He did sign for enough to make it worth his while to do it," said his mother. "It was beneficial for him to negotiate.

Morgan said he would graduate from Harvard at some point, though probably not next spring.

He said he will likely attend an instructional camp after the Medicine Hat season concludes at the end of the summer.

"He knows he'll graduate from Harvard," said his mother, Colleen Morgan. "When, he doesn't know."

In the end, the uncompromising style of Harvard baseball coach Leigh P. Hogan may have driven Morgan to go pro.

While Morgan considers himself a catcher and was drafted as such by the Blue Jays, Hogan played him at first base. In Medicine Hat, he will catch.

"That's the position he's wanted to play for three years," his mother said.

With a dearth of quality backstops playing at the major league level, catchers, in general, stand a better chance of advancing to the major leagues.

"Yeah, it's the quickest way," said Morgan. "You also got to understand that's still not that quick. The quickest way is still four or five years."

Medicine Hat presents some unique challenges for the minor league baseball player. The town's location in the hinterlands of Alberta place it far away from many of its opponents.

And the Blue Jays, who recruit extensively in Latin America, have often used the tiny Canadian town as a refuge to test the mettle of their best prospects, some of whom know little English.

"It's fun and it's interesting," said Morgan. "You think there would be a language barrier, and that has an effect off the field. But on the field, the communication is great."

Morgan said he is enjoying the new environment and working hard. He won't say, however, what the Blue Jays paid him as a signing bonus. Morgan had an important bargaining chip: he could always return to Harvard in the fall, leaving the Toronto organization empty-handed.

"He did sign for enough to make it worth his while to do it," said his mother. "It was beneficial for him to negotiate.