In a matchup between two of North Carolina’s most talented high school baseball prospects, Wagner Morrissette came out ahead.
It just so happened all the right eyes were watching.
The Burlington School right-handed pitcher faced off against Randleman catcher Brooks Bannon, a UNC commitment, and came away with three strikeouts in front of a crowd full of professional scouts in late April.
“That was the big game. There were a lot of scouts there following Randleman’s catcher, who’s going to get drafted pretty high,” TBS baseball coach Chad Holland said. “Wagner struck him out three times on 3-2 sliders. Everybody can hit the fastball at that level, but that slider in those situations really got the scouts’ attention.”
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Morrissette finished that game with 10 strikeouts, three hits allowed and one earned run in five innings in a 4-0 loss to Randleman, the eventual NCHSAA Class 2-A state champion, instantly drawing the attention of scouts.
“My phone started blowing up a lot more from other teams that had not been in on Wagner and now there’s more teams when he followed that up throwing 90-95 the next game,” Holland said.
Morrissette, who helped guide the Spartans to their first state championship in May, will soon have a decision to make about his baseball future. The Maryland commitment is expected to be selected in the MLB Draft July 17-19.
“It’s exciting, but at the end of the day, you can’t get too caught up in that stuff, because in the blink of an eye, it can all go away,” Morrissette said. “I think the biggest thing for me is just been to stay focused on myself, control what I can control. That’s a big thing that I’ve learned this year. You can’t spend too much time focusing on stuff that you can’t control. As soon as you harness the stuff that’s in your possession, what you can control, the rest will work itself out.”
With a fastball that reaches 95 mph and a filthy slider, Morrissette is expected to be selected between the third and sixth rounds, Holland said. He would then have to decide between signing with the MLB organization that drafts him to begin his professional career or continuing his playing career at Maryland.
Despite all the recent attention his game has brought him, Morrissette said the only way to go about it is to stay locked in.
“I have to tell myself to stay grounded and to never think that this game is easy, ever,” he said. “As soon as you start thinking that, this game will beat you up more than you know it.”
Morrissette would be the first Alamance County high school player to be selected in the MLB Draft since 2014 when Southern Alamance right-handed pitcher Alex Durham was picked in the 12th round (355th overall) by the New York Mets.
“I’m just super proud of him,” Holland said. “It’s not always been easy but he’s always kept his head down, put his work in and now he’s seeing the fruits of his labor, and I’m really excited for him.”
Just a little over a year ago, Morrissette struggled on the mound. He finished his junior season with a 6.12 ERA in nine appearances. Undeterred, he continued to work.
“I’d definitely say my mindset and my confidence (has improved),” Morrissette said. “Last year, I kind of struggled a little bit and I think my confidence kind of took a hit. This year, I came in with much more confidence. It’s kind of the biggest thing for me. When you go out there and you know you can do it, it’s a huge step. You have to believe in yourself before anyone else.”
That junior year didn’t discourage Morrissette but motivated him. He responded with a 0.95 ERA in his senior season.
“His ability to overcome failure,” Holland said. “Baseball is a game of failure and that’s why a lot of talented players don’t make it. He could go fail but he’s back in the next day working, working, working. Putting in that work, so when it does click, he’s ready for the moment.”
David Kehrli is a sports reporter at the Burlington Times-News and USA Today Network. You can reach him at david.kehrli@thetimesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidKehrliTN. Subscribe to the Burlington Times-News here.
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