Three-way prospect makes Single-A pitching debut with scoreless frame
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Shotaro Morii made history when he signed with the Athletics in January 2025, landing the largest signing bonus ($1.5 million) ever handed out to an amateur from Japan. After getting his feet wet stateside in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League last year solely as a hitter, the real fun began Thursday as the Athletics’ No. 13 prospect made his Minor League full-season pitching debut.
Morii tossed a scoreless frame for Single-A Stockton in its 9-2 win at Banner Island Ballpark against Inland Empire, working around a walk and collecting his first strikeout at the level on an elevated fastball. He got out of the inning unscathed after Gavin Turley (ATH No. 15) made a full-extension diving grab in right field.
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All told, the 19-year-old threw 14 pitches (eight for strikes) and made a throwing error on a pickoff attempt. But it was step one in what is setting up to be a special summer for Morii, who will hit, pitch and play the field, essentially becoming a three-way player.
“He is attempting to do something that is very difficult,” A’s farm director Ed Sprague said recently. “His offensive game is ahead of his pitching, but he has a great arm and is committed to doing both.”
Morii would probably have been a two-way talent in his native Japan had he stayed and been selected in the NPB Draft, where he figured to go in the top-10 picks. He has a smooth left-handed swing in the box and a feel for the barrel, as evidenced by his 45 home runs during his high school days. On the mound, he’s a bit more raw, although his 92-93 mph fastball and solid splitter are terrific starting points.
“It could be super special on both ends,” said Steve Sharpe, the A’s director of international scouting last January. “He's already touching 95 [mph], so it's like, man, we've got to try both -- and he's up for it. He's an amazing athlete, so I think we can navigate.”
That plan of navigation will look like this: Morii will start on Thursdays, initially going one inning before working up to three. He’ll get Fridays off before throwing side sessions on Saturdays, the same day he’ll play second base. He will return to a DH role for Sunday games as the A's aim to get his bat into the lineup three or four times a week.
Morii arrived in Stockton this week, going 0-for-2 with a sacrifice fly as the DH in his Ports debut Tuesday. He hit safely in all three of his Rookie-level ACL tuneup games and worked a scoreless frame with two strikeouts on the hill on May 7, his official pro pitching debut.
Every great ballplayer who has had the ability to hit, pitch and field at a young age has likely thought about what it would be like to do all three as a pro. Morii is getting the chance to actually live that dream.