Christopher Morel Thriving in Platoon Role for Rays'

In Wednesday's matchup against the Baltimore Orioles, Christopher Morel played a vital role in helping the offense overcome an eight-run deficit. 

In his most recent role with the team, Morel has served as a platoon option for outfielder Jake Magnum in left field. But Morel has played the infield throughout his big league career, primarily serving as a third baseman.

Due to his change in roles, Morel has tapped into the potential he displayed all those years ago when he was playing with the Chicago Cubs. In the last 10 games Morel has shown an impressive slash line, recording a .348 batting average, a .348 on-base percentage, and a .739 slugging percentage. 

However, one concerning aspect is Morel's approach at the plate; while he has a .348 OBP, it is the result of only hits. This raises the question of whether Morel will sustain this success as the season progresses; Morel is still hitting .227/.297/.400 this year. But he's shown to be a formidable hitter in his new role and contributed to the Rays' gratifying win. 

For Manager Kevin Cash and the Rays, if Morel can adjust his approach enough to stay competitive against a broader range of pitchers across the league, it will be hard to keep him out of the platoon role as the season progresses.