If you are a fan of baseball, you might have heard of Jim Morris, the former pitcher who made his major league debut at the age of 35 after a remarkable comeback from injury. But did you know that he has a son named Hunter Morris, who also played baseball at a high level? Is Hunter Morris related to Jim Morris by blood, or is there another explanation for their shared surname and passion for the sport? In this article, we will explore the truth behind the baseball family and their stories.
Who is Jim Morris?
Jim Morris was born on January 19, 1964, in Brownwood, Texas. He grew up in a military family and moved around a lot as a child. He developed an interest in baseball and played as a pitcher in high school and college. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1983, but he suffered several arm injuries that prevented him from advancing beyond the minor leagues. He retired from baseball in 1989 and became a high school science teacher and baseball coach in Big Lake, Texas.
In 1999, at the age of 35, Morris made a bet with his high school team that if they won the district championship, he would try out for a major league team. The team won, and Morris kept his promise. He attended a tryout for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and surprised everyone by throwing pitches over 95 miles per hour. He was offered a contract and assigned to the minor leagues. After a few months, he was called up to the majors and made his debut on September 18, 1999, against the Texas Rangers. He pitched in five games that season and recorded one strikeout. He returned to the majors in 2000 and pitched in 16 games, recording one win and one save. He retired from baseball for good after the 2000 season due to chronic arm problems.
Morris’s story was adapted into a movie called The Rookie, starring Dennis Quaid as Morris. The movie was released in 2002 and received positive reviews from critics and audiences. It portrayed Morris’s relationship with his family, especially his son Hunter, who looked up to his father and supported his dream.
Who is Hunter Morris?
Hunter Morris was born on October 7, 1988, in Huntsville, Alabama. He is the son of Jim Morris and his first wife Lorri, whom he divorced in 2001. He has two sisters, Jessica and Jamie, and two half-siblings, Tyler and Shelby, from his father’s second marriage to Shawna.
Hunter Morris followed his father’s footsteps and played baseball as a first baseman. He attended Virgil I. Grissom High School in Huntsville, where he was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the second round of the 2007 MLB draft. However, he did not sign with them and instead chose to play college baseball at Auburn University. He had a stellar career at Auburn, where he was named the SEC Player of the Year and a first-team All-American in 2010.
He was drafted again by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fourth round of the 2010 MLB draft and signed with them. He played in their minor league system from 2010 to 2014, reaching as high as Triple-A. He won several awards for his performance, including the Southern League MVP and the Brewers Minor League Player of the Year in 2012. He was added to the Brewers’ 40-man roster in 2013 but never got called up to the majors.
In 2015, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named later. He played for their Double-A and Triple-A affiliates but struggled with injuries and poor performance. He was released by the Pirates after the season and retired from baseball.
He then pursued a career in coaching. He became a student assistant hitting coach at Auburn in 2016 and an assistant coach for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2017. He then served as the hitting coach at the University of Tennessee at Martin from 2017 to 2020. In 2021, he joined the University of Alabama coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach.
Conclusion
So, is Hunter Morris related to Jim Morris? The answer is yes, they are father and son by blood. They both share a love for baseball and have had remarkable journeys in their careers. They have also faced challenges and setbacks along the way but have overcome them with perseverance and determination.
This article is based on information from various sources such as Wikipedia, IMDb, The Washington Post, PlayerWives.com, and CelebrityXYZ.com. The author does not claim to have verified the accuracy or completeness of the information. The article is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. The author is not responsible for any errors or omissions in the article. The reader is advised to do their own research and consult a qualified professional before making any decisions based on the article.
