Luis Morales (baseball)
Cuban baseball player (born 2002)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Luis Danys Morales (born September 24, 2002) is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher for the Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2025.
| Luis Morales | |
|---|---|
| Athletics – No. 19 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: September 24, 2002 Antilla, Cuba | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 1, 2025, for the Athletics | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 4–3 |
| Earned run average | 3.14 |
| Strikeouts | 43 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
Career
Morales was born in Cuba.[1] He played for Gallos de Sancti Spíritus in Cuban National Series during the 2020–21 season, going 3–3 with a 5.95 ERA in 11 pitching appearances.[2] While playing on the Cuba national team in the 2020 U-23 Baseball World Cup in Mexico City, Morales defected.[3] He was ruled an international free agent by Major League Baseball for the 2023 MLB international signing period.[4]
Morales was signed by the Oakland Athletics on January 16, 2023.[5] He split his first affiliated season between the Dominican Summer League Athletics, rookie-level Arizona League Athletics, Single-A Stockton Ports, and High-A Lansing Lugnuts. In 14 appearances (13 starts) for the four affiliates, he compiled a combined 0-5 record and 2.86 ERA with 53 strikeouts over 44 innings of work.[6] Morales returned to Lansing for the 2024 season, registering a 2-4 record and 4.22 ERA with 84 strikeouts over 81 innings of work.[7]
Morales began the 2025 season with the Double-A Midland RockHounds, later receiving a promotion to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. On August 1, 2025, Morales was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[8] Morales recorded his first victory on August 16, allowing one run over fine innings against the Los Angeles Angels.[9] Morales made the Athletics' Opening Day roster in 2026, and was sent to the minors on April 7.[10]