Kendrys Morales

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Morales' journey began in Cuba, where he joined the national team at age 19 as its first teenager in nearly two decades. He served as the cleanup hitter during their dramatic 2003 World Cup victory, securing a 6–3 win over Taiwan with a grand slam. After facing disciplinary issues and an unsuccessful escape attempt that landed him in jail, he finally fled Cuba on a raft in June 2004. To avoid the MLB draft rules for North American residents, he established residency in the Dominican Republic. Signed by the Angels in December 2004 to a six-year, $3 million deal, Morales debuted in the minors in May 2005 after passport delays. He made his MLB debut on May 23, 2006, going 3-for-5 with a home run against the Texas Rangers. His 2009 breakout saw him hit 34 home runs and slug .569, finishing fifth in MVP voting behind Joe Mauer.

In Their Own Story

On May 29, 2010, at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Morales hit a walk-off grand slam off Brandon League to secure a 5–1 victory over the Seattle Mariners. As he approached his celebrating teammates, he attempted to stomp on home plate rather than step on it. The awkward landing resulted in a fracture of his lower left leg, requiring surgery and ending his season immediately. This injury kept him out of Major League Baseball for nearly two years; by May 11, 2011, it was confirmed he would miss the entire season due to rehabilitation complications. He finally returned to action on March 22, 2012, in a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals and hit his first post-injury home run on April 16. Later that year, on July 30, Morales became only the third player in MLB history to hit two home runs in the same inning from opposite sides of the plate.

Reader's Guide

Morales played for the Angels through the 2012 season before being traded to the Seattle Mariners on December 19, 2012, in exchange for pitcher Jason Vargas. During his Angels tenure, he was a key offensive force until his 2010 injury. He finished the 2012 season with a .273 average, 22 home runs, and 73 RBIs before leaving Anaheim. The source does not list him as an All-Star selection or mention a trade back to the Angels in 2017; instead, it notes he played for the Mariners, Twins, Royals (winning a Silver Slugger and World Series in 2015), Blue Jays, Athletics, and Yankees. His legacy with the Angels remains tied to his pre-injury dominance and the specific circumstances of his return to play.

Did You Know?

• Morales was the first teenager to make the Cuban national baseball team in nearly 20 years when he joined in 2002.
• He escaped Cuba on a raft in June 2004, which was his eighth attempt at leaving the country.
• On July 30, 2012, he became only the third player in MLB history to hit home runs from both sides of the plate in the same inning.
• His ankle injury occurred on May 29, 2010, after an awkward landing while attempting to stomp on home plate during a walk-off grand slam celebration.