Justin Morneau: Difference between revisions

Justin Morneau
Justin Morneau
	File:Justin Morneau2.jpg
Minnesota Twins – No. 33
	First base
	Bats: Left Throws: Right
debut
	June 10, 2003, for the Minnesota Twins
Career statistics ; (through August 24, 2006)
Batting Average	.271
Home Runs	77
RBI	263
	Stats at Baseball Reference

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Revision as of 11:51, 1 September 2006

Justin Ernest George Morneau (born on May 15, 1981 in New Westminster, British Columbia) is a Major League Baseball player. He is currently the Minnesota Twins' everyday first baseman. Though he dislikes the label, Morneau, along with teammate and roomate Joe Mauer, is sometimes referred to as one of "The New M&M Boys." He is considered one of the top Canadian first basemen of all time.^[1]

High school and minor league careers

Morneau is a 1999 graduate of New Westminster Secondary School, where he was named the New Westminster High School Athlete of the year and was a member of Canadian national champion baseball teams in 1997 and 1998. In 1998, he was selected the best hitter and catcher of the National Championships.

Morneau did not attend college. He was selected by the Twins in 3rd round as the 89th overall pick of the 1999 MLB amateur entry draft. In six minor league seasons, he hit .310 with 87 home runs, 153 RBI and 122 doubles. Morneau participated in the 2002 and 2004 All-Star Futures Games, playing for the World teams.

Professional Career

Morneau made his Major League Baseball debut with the Twins on June 10, 2003, but spent the majority of the season with the Triple A Rochester Red Wings. In 2004, after compiling impressive minor league numbers, he forced the Twins to deal veteran first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz to the Boston Red Sox and became the Twins' starting first baseman. Morneau appeared in 61 games for the Twins in 2004, hitting 19 home runs in 280 at bats while committing just three errors.

The 2005 season was a struggle for Morneau, as he dealt with a variety of off-season illnesses and was hit in the head by a pitch in April. Although he never appeared to fully shake off his early season setbacks, Morneau finished the 2005 season second on the Twins in home runs with 22 and paced the squad with 74 RBI.

Prior to the 2006 season, Morneau suited up for his native Canada in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He hit .308 with 3 doubles and 2 RBI in three games.

After a slow start to 2006, Morneau exploded offensively in the months of June, July, and August, raising his batting average nearly 50 points in June after beginning the month hitting .240. He raised his average another 33 points in July and since June has consistently appeared near the top of the American League leaderboard in home runs and RBI. On August 9, 2006, Morneau became the first Twin since 1987 to hit 30 home runs in a single season. Through August 29, Morneau has a batting average of .319, 32 home runs, and 110 RBI.

Trivia

In 2006, Morneau switched from jersey #27 to #33, which he has tattooed on his left biceps. Former Twin J.C. Romero wore #33 during Morneau's first two seasons with the squad.
Morneau is just the fourth Canadian to hit 30 or more homeruns in a season.^[2]
Morneau is extremely superstitious and likes to follow a specific gameday routine. ^[3]
Is admittedly addicted to Kraft Easy Mac.

Quotes

“(The Star Tribune) said they were going to do it as more of a joke. I didn’t really want to do it – I didn’t really like it.” -Morneau on newspaper's full page spread labeling him and Joe Mauer as the "M & M Boys."

“He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL.” -Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.

References

External links

Morneau makes good (Minnesota Public Radio).

Morneau: "I'll be alright" (Minnesota Public Radio).

Morneau: What went wrong in 2005? (Minnesota Public Radio).

Don’t blame the Canadian (Minnesota Public Radio).

Morneau: The reluctant "M" (Minnesota Public Radio).

Morneau Reflects on Success (SBeeN.com).

Morneau is Here to Stay (SBeeN.com).

Morneau reflects on rookie year (SBeeN.com).

Inside Morneau's Major League Debut (SBeeN.com).

The Morneau Chronicles.

Morneau's statistics at Baseball-Reference.com.

[1] ttp://mopupduty.com/?p=20

[2] ttp://www.startribune.com/150/story/608211.html

[3] ttp://www.startribune.com/150/story/608211.html

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[2]

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 == High school and minor league careers ==
-Morneau is a 1999 graduate of New Westminster Secondary School, where he was named the New Westminster High School Athlete of the year and was a member of Canadian national champion baseball teams in 1997 and 1998. In 1998, he was selected the best hitter and catcher of the National Championships. Morneau also played high school basketball and hockey, playing 1 pre-season game with the [[1998 Memorial Cup]] champion [[Portland Winter Hawks]].<ref>http://www.sunmedia.ca/Slam020909/bbl_edm-sun.html</ref> He was a member of the 1999 Canadian World Junior Team, where he led the team in scoring with a record 11 goals in 7 games. He was then drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 14th round but he could not agree to terms with the National Hockey League club. After short stint in sports television at TSN as an editorial assistant he was released for faulty info in a highlight pack.
+Morneau is a 1999 graduate of New Westminster Secondary School, where he was named the New Westminster High School Athlete of the year and was a member of Canadian national champion baseball teams in 1997 and 1998. In 1998, he was selected the best hitter and catcher of the National Championships.
 Morneau did not attend college. He was selected by the Twins in 3rd round as the 89th overall pick of the 1999 [[MLB draft|MLB amateur entry draft]]. In six minor league seasons, he hit .310 with 87 home runs, 153 [[RBI]] and 122 doubles. Morneau participated in the 2002 and 2004 [[All-Star Futures Game|All-Star Futures Games]], playing for the World teams.