Akeel Morris is a professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 11th round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington D.C. While he has yet to make his major league debut, Morris has generated some interest from baseball card collectors due to his prospect status and playing for a prestigious franchise like the Braves. Let’s take a deeper look at Akeel Morris baseball cards and his journey through the minor leagues so far.
Morris began his professional career in 2014 after being drafted by Atlanta. He made his debut that season for the Braves’ rookie level affiliate in the Gulf Coast League, pitching 11 innings over 6 appearances with a 3.27 ERA. His first baseball cards were released later that year in 2014 Bowman Draft and 2014 Bowman Chrome Draft rookie card sets. These served as Morris’ rookie cards that captured his early potential as a prospect. He received modest card numbers and values at the time as an unproven later round draft pick.
In 2015, Morris saw his first full season of pro ball playing for the Danville Braves of the Appalachian League. In 13 games started, he put up impressive numbers – 2.03 ERA with 74 strikeouts over 62.2 innings pitched. This breakout season performance led to Morris receiving cards in the mainstream 2015 Bowman set and raised his profile within the Braves system. His cards from that year remain some of his most popular among collectors today due to capturing his breakout.
Morris continued moving up the minor league ladder in 2016 by playing for the Rome Braves in Low A-Ball. In 25 games (24 starts) there, he posted a 3.27 ERA with 111 strikeouts in 115 innings. He demonstrated improved control that season as well. This solid showing led to Morris being included in 2016 Bowman Chrome Prospects sets. His prospect status and potential were on the rise within the organization.
In 2017, Morris made the jump to High A-Ball with the Florida Fire Frogs. This is typically seen as an important test for pitching prospects. Morris passed with flying colors by far exceeding expectations – in 26 games (25 starts) he had a microscopic 1.74 ERA with 141 strikeouts over 134 innings. His dominance was recognized when Topps honored his breakout season with cards in their 2017 Bowman Chrome Prospects Superfractor set, which is extremely rare for a player who had yet to reach Double-A.
Morris’ incredible 2017 season propelled him onto Top 100 Prospect lists heading into 2018. He started that season strong in Double-A with the Mississippi Braves, but an injury cut his season short. He returned later in the year for a few appearances in the Arizona Fall League. Despite the injury, Morris still gained recognition with cards in the 2018 Bowman Chrome set due to his new top prospect status.
In 2019, Morris finally made it to Triple-A with the Gwinnett Stripers as a 24 year old. He struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness that plagued him all season in his first taste of Triple-A. He finished with a 6.00 ERA over 15 innings in 9 appearances before undergoing Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for all of 2020. This downturn led to Morris falling off Top Prospect lists and losing prospect card inclusions after 2018.
Now in his return from TJ surgery and rehab in 2021, the 27 year old Morris is fighting to regain his career momentum in the Braves system. He spent the season with both High-A and Double-A on rehab assignments. While the results were mixed, Morris showed flashes of his pre-injury form and durability in making his return. As a former top pitching prospect for a prestigious franchise, Morris will try to earn his way back up the ladder in 2022.
For collectors, Akeel Morris cards from his breakout seasons of 2015-2017 in the lower minors remain the most desirable today. His rarer prospect cards from sets like 2017 Bowman Chrome also hold value due to capturing his highest prospect status. With the long injury layoff and setbacks, Morris’ prospect luster has faded. Unless he is able to re-establish himself as a viable big league option going forward, his modern issue cards may remain affordable for collectors. But if Morris is able to complete his comeback story with a major league debut, his entire collection could see renewed interest from both Braves and prospect card collectors. Only time will tell how the rest of Akeel Morris’ baseball career unfolds.
In summary, Akeel Morris generated baseball card popularity from 2014-2018 as a highly regarded pitching prospect in the Braves system who demonstrated frontline stuff in the lower minors. Injuries and ineffectiveness at Triple-A slowed his momentum. But with his talent and pedigree, Morris remains a compelling comeback story for both the Braves and collectors following his journey. His early breakout season cards remain the most significant in his collection today.