Yoyo Morales excited to begin next chapter after starring for Miami Hurricanes

University of Miami junior 3B Yohandy Morales joined pitcher Andrew Walters as picks on the first day of the 2023 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Morales was selected in the second round (No. 40 overall) by the Washington Nationals, while Walters was picked in the Competitive Balance Round B (No. 62 overall) by the Cleveland Guardians.

“I’m super happy for the decision I made (to attend Miami out of high school),” Morales said. “Going to Miami for three years helped me grow. I’m super thankful for the three years I got to go to Miami.”

Morales said he expected to go higher in the draft and was “just waiting for that call” on the first draft day. With that in the past now, Morales says he is excited to start the next phase of his career.

The slot value signing bonus at his spot is $2.14 million.

“Obviously it’s special,” he said. “I’m just super excited to get to work. I’m ready to leave right now and just play already.”

Morales has big upside in the Major Leagues, and ESPN Draft Analyst Eduardo Perez weighed in that “Morales continues to grow and will continue to grow in the Nationals organization. A big hitter with not a lot of protection in that lineup and I think he had to chase a lot more because of the ineffectiveness of the rest of the players.

“Yoyo has made a lot of improvements. He had a lot of swing-and-misses early in his freshman and sophomore seasons. He worked on it and has a lot of power line to line. Elite opposite-field production. He has a .446 batting average, which is in the 95th percentile (in Division I) according to 643Charts with what they provided to us. Against big teams in big moments he also produced in a major way for the Hurricanes.”

Morales cemented himself in the Miami record books across his three seasons at The U. His 49 career home runs rank fourth all-time by a Hurricane, trailing only Phil Lane, Pat Burrell and Yonder Alonso. Morales also hit .343, drove in 174 runs and tallied a 1.048 OPS.

In 2023, the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder led the Hurricanes in nine offensive categories: average (.408), hits (98), home runs (20), RBI (70), at-bats (240), total bases (171), on-base percentage (.475), slugging percentage (.713) and OPS (1.187).

Morales garnered All-America accolades, finishing with the sixth-most hits, seventh-best average, eighth-highest slugging percentage and tied for 10th in homers in a single season in program history.

What does Morales bring to the table at the next level?

“Just a performer, a player that is going to go out there and try to win ball games,” Morales said. “An all-around player who will do what he can to win.”

A Miami Hurricanes player has now been selected in 50 consecutive drafts, dating back to 1974.

Morales helped propel Miami to a home regional berth this past season.

“I was there supporting my teammates, them supporting me … The will to win games, get my team as far as possible as I can,” Morales said. “I was just trying to play baseball and have fun.”

Morales now is getting to work to make his pro career special.

“Something to work on – my defense,” Morales said, adding that he anticipates remaining at third base. “Offensive side, cut down on swings and misses. And get more athletic.”