Cal Poly Baseball in Review — Kevin Morgan and Elijah Skipps

OK, after a little hiatus, let’s power through the final twelve Cal Poly baseball players. With the football season starting early this year, training camp will be starting in July and I don’t want a HUGE back-log. Here we go down the stretch, starting with a pair of left handed hitters. 

Kevin Morgan (Senior, Outfielder)

Kevin Morgan was one of the few Mustangs left from Cal Poly’s 2014 regional team. By Owen Main

Season Synopsis

Kevin Morgan always had good bat-to-ball skills and hit tools. Early in his career, memories of Morgan are littered with sacrifice bunts and moving guys over on the bases. In his senior year, Morgan was counted on to do more than that. He was one of six Mustangs who hit at least three home runs in 2017. 

Last of the Regional guys

Morgan was a very steady hitter throughout his career. As a freshman, he contributed to the program’s first home regional, and with him and Slater Lee finishing their eligibility, the Mustangs will no longer have any players with regional experience in their program. Morgan’s steadying influence played a big role in the team’s late charge in conference play. While a .250 average doesn’t seem like a huge void to fill, his presence in the locker room and positive and businesslike approach will be missed moving forward. 

Elijah Skipps (Junior, First Baseman/Designated Hitter)

Elijah Skipps will be counted on for big production as a senior in 2018. By Owen Main

Power brewing — Season Synopsis

Having played previously at a Pac 12 school (Arizona) and with his pedigree as a switch-hitting player with raw power, Skipps had high expectations coming into 2017. After making the switch to hitting left-handed only, Skipps took a while to come into his own. By the final month of the year, the Cypress, CA native was driving the ball all around the park.

As a senior, expectations will be high for Skipps to produce more than the 19 runs, 24 RBI’s, and .252 average he put-up in 2017. If the last few weeks of the season were any indication, he’s fully capable. 

Late surge

Skipps had hits in 14 of his final 17 games in 2017 — hopefully a good sign for Larry Lee and company. Two of his four homers came in one game — at UCSB — late in conference play. If Skipps can be a more consistent threat in the middle of Cal Poly’s order throughout the season in 2018, it could go a long way toward making the Mustang lineup more balanced and dangerous.  

Cal Poly has a lot of returning players who can hit, but as far as left-handed hitters go, Skipps is one of the few returners who they can really rely on.