Kendry Morales

Kendry Morales (born June 20, 1983 in Fomento, Cuba) is a first baseman currently playing minor league baseball in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim farm system. He is a switch hitter and throws to his right.

Cuban career

Morales joined the Cuban national baseball team in 2002 and immediately became a star player--despite being the first teenager to make the team in nearly twenty years. He was the cleanup hitter on the team during its dramatic 2003 World Cup championship. His grand slam in the final round against Taiwan secured a 6-3 Cuban victory, one game after hitting a home run that provided the winning runs against Brazil.

Related Topics:
2002 - Cleanup hitter - 2003 - World Cup - Grand slam - Taiwan - Brazil

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In his first--and only-- full season with Havana's Industriales pro team in 2003, Morales had a batting average of .324 with 21 home runs and 82 RBIs, setting seven rookie records in the process.

Related Topics:
Batting average - Home runs - RBIs

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Morales' stardom in Cuba was short-lived, however. He was sent back to Cuba from Panama during the Olympic qualifying round in November 2003 for making contact with an agent. It was the last time he would suit up as a Cuban.

Related Topics:
Panama - Olympic - November

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