'Never-Satisfied Attitude' Has Morrison Striving For More

FLUSHING - Jacob Morrison was not shy when asked how he goes about selling himself to an interested college.

“I don’t feel I need to sell myself,” the Flushing High School junior said. “If they want me, they’ll offer. I’m not going to force myself on anyone. If they don’t want me, I’ll go somewhere else.”

After all, the 6-7 225-pound right-handed pitcher has plenty of options at the moment with three offers on the table.

“I’m definitely narrowing things down on schools,” explained Morrison, who has been offered by Toledo, Eastern Michigan and Pittsburgh.

Admittedly, dealing with the recruiting process during COVID-19 has not been the easiest for the 23rd-rated 2022 in Michigan.

“They’ve all seen me on video not live, that’s a big factor in my recruitment,” pointed out Morrison. “With the dead period I can’t go on a visit, but I definitely want to visit before I commit to a school. It really slowed things down, but once Sept. 1 came around I started talking to way more schools.”

An unofficial visit to Pitt has been taken and another is planned to Eastern by Morrison, who also “checked out” Wake Forest while at a tournament and saw Notre Dame last year.

“Those that I’ve talked to like my size and the strike percent I throw ... and my projectability,” Morrison noted. “They feel I have way more left in the tank that’s ready to be used.”

The ninth-ranked right-handed junior pitcher in the state is a far cry from the hurler he was last year.

“The biggest improvement has been arm action,” Morrison pointed out. “I was horrible a year ago but now I’m where I want to be. I’m lifting every day and that’s greatly had an impact on me.”

The 17-year-old gave credit to pitching coach Kevin Visser for playing a major role.

“I’ve always been good at baseball but last year I took my game to a whole new level meeting my pitching coach and being on team U.S. Elite National,” Morrison said.

Exposure has been vital in helping the cause.

“I went to the Future Games but didn’t do so hot,” explained Morrison, who fanned four and allowed two hits in three innings on the mound.

Aaron Wilson, PBR Michigan Director of Scouting, liked what he saw in the second-rated uncommitted 2022 pitcher in the state..

“He was a joy to be around,” Wilson said of Morrison. “He’s an extremely nice young man that’s hungry to get better. He has a never-satisfied attitude that will carry him at the next level. He has wide shoulders and long levers that make him an interesting prospect. He commands three pitches well while throwing in the mid-to-upper 80s.”

Those are qualities that have attracted colleges.

“I feel I’m going to the best tournaments in the nation for my class and I’m talking to colleges I want to,” Morrison related.

There is confidence in what he can bring to whatever program he ends up.

“I can be a weekend starter my freshman year … or maybe come out of the bullpen,” Morrison said. “I handle big situations well.”

A 3.93 student planning on a major in a field with math and science, Morrison admits the recruiting process has been somewhat surprising.

“I thought I’d find a school in a month but it’s been six or seven months since I first started talking to schools,” Morrison said. “But I don’t mind it, I’m not in a hurry to commit. As long as I’m committed by my senior year.”

For now, his time is being spent on the basketball court with baseball just around the corner.

“I play basketball so I’m running up and down the court right now, but in a couple weeks I’ll start a throwing program,” Morrison said. “I’m hoping two months of bullpens and then I’ll be ready for the season.”