Morel Morel Morel: Making Cubs and MLB History, Video Game Numbers, Leaving Folks Speechless, More

May 24, 2023, by Brett Taylor Chicago Cubs

On the one hand, it seems a bit excessive to have a glowing post on Christopher Morel’s latest accomplishment every single day, but on the other hand, HE KEEPS DOING IT. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO BUT FAWN?!?!

So let’s just keep fawning …

Christopher Morel’s latest homer was his 9th in 12 games to start his season, which is QUITE rare:

Christopher Morel's 9 HR are tied for the 2nd-most HR in a player’s 1st 12 games of season since 1900 with 2001 Luis Gonzalez and 1997 Larry Walker, behind only:

1976 Mike Schmidt: 11 https://t.co/Z14U09n1Vc
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 24, 2023

Describe Christopher Morel with one word ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/NSzXL0xGCa
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 24, 2023

As far as team history goes, hitting 9 homers in ANY 12-game stretch is quite rare:

Christopher Morel is only the 6th different Cubs batter with at least one span of 9 HRs in 12 games.

– Ernie Banks (3)
– Hack Wilson (3)
– Lee Walls (5)
– Aramis Ramírez (1)
– Sammy Sosa (36)
— Ryan Herrera (@ryan_a_herrera) May 24, 2023

And his five straight games with a homer ties a team record with some guy you might recognize from a season you might remember:

Christopher Morel is the first Cubs player to hit a home run in five consecutive games since Sammy Sosa in 1998.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) May 24, 2023

the last two Cubs to homer five games in a row pic.twitter.com/ASyfuVh373
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) May 24, 2023

One more for the history books, though this one is more of an oddity than anything else:

Last 5 games for the @Cubs' Christopher Morel:

Batted 1st, hit a HR
Batted 8th, hit a HR
Batted 9th, hit a HR
Batted 6th, hit a HR
Batted 5th, hit a HR

He's the first player in MLB history to homer in 5 straight games from 5 different spots in the order. pic.twitter.com/nHVS0wm5YK
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) May 24, 2023

This is just delightful:

God, I love Christopher Morel https://t.co/fBppZRNBJR pic.twitter.com/kvvYT2ruiC
— Sara Sanchez (@BCB_Sara) May 24, 2023

Morel’s 9th homer – in TWELVE GAMES – has him tied for 35th in baseball with, among others, Paul Goldschmidt, Freddie Freeman, Juan Soto, JD Martinez, and Nolan Arenado.

Among players with at least 50 PAs, Christopher Morel’s 265 wRC+ leads baseball … BY 77 POINTS.

Christopher Morel is slugging .980. There are only 8 other players WITH AN OPS OVER .980.

David Ross is near speechless:

There’s not much left for Cubs manager David Ross to say to describe the start of Christopher Morel’s season: pic.twitter.com/9MZXAfSJCO
— Ryan Herrera (@ryan_a_herrera) May 24, 2023

Stray thoughts on Morel playing time while I was mulling it this morning:

I don't want to undersell the potential defensive concerns – the arm stroke at 3B for Morel last year was really troubling. It's *HARD* to change daily from IF to OF and back. Morel is probably best at 2B, but that's rightly Nico.

So, some OF, some 3B, rare SS/2B, and some DH.
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) May 24, 2023

Every day Morel is not starting in the field for reasons of match-up or defensive urgency or whatever, then he needs to be DH. You have to roll with a guy who is doing what he's doing for as long as he's doing it (& then for a few more weeks after that, too, so he can adjust).
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) May 24, 2023

Filed to: Chicago Cubs