Trojans' Morozowski earns ABCA/Rawlings 1st-team All-American honors

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on June 8, 2015 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

MOUNT OLIVE -- The month-long layoff was worth it.

Aggravated by an arm injury, Jason Morozowski decided to take off December and go through intensive rehabilitation before spring practice started in January.

He didn't want to ride the bench.

Or have surgery.

"Dr. James Andrews gave our athletic trainer a program to follow to help my progression in rehab," Morozowski said. "I got on the program and every day from the beginning of the season of the season, I felt like I was getting stronger. I'm not sure how I ended up playing the whole year."

He did.

And reaped the rewards for his perseverance.

Morozowski earned first-team honors on the 2015 Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association Division II All-American squad. He was also a Rawlings/ABCA Gold Glove Team recipient.

"Those honors are as good as they get," Morozowski said. "I'm blessed that I had a great team to play with and have the year that I did. If they didn't help me, I wouldn't have been able to have the numbers that I did.

"I'm really humbled ... am glad I could bring those awards back to Mount Olive. That says a lot about the program and what they do for us as a player."

But Morozowski's season seemed in doubt.

Head coach Carl Lancaster had hoped to use the Division I transfer from FIU in the bullpen. A partial tear in the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) prompted Lancaster to remove "J-Mo" from the pitching rotation and put him in the outfield.

Lancaster wondered throughout the season how long it would take for his star center fielder to completely tear the UCL. It never happened.

Morozowski emerged just one of two UMO players, Justin Manning was the other, to play in all 55 games this season. He led the team in 11 offensive categories -- batting average (.424), at-bats (224), total plate appearances (258), hits (95), runs scored (78), home runs (21), RBI (81), extra-base hits (40), total bases touched (177), on-base percentage (.481) and slugging percentage (.790).

His most impressive stat?

Morozowski logged an incredible 1.000 fielding percentage. He recorded 115 putouts and five assists in 120 chances.

"The coaches had me positioned well all year and I did the best I could to hawk down (balls) in the outfield," Morozowski chuckled.

There is speculation that Morozowski may not return for his senior season at UMO. The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder has drawn attention -- and worked out -- for scouts/coaches with the Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and Florida Marlins.

Morozowski is projected for selection from the fourth to eighth rounds. The Major League Baseball Amateur Draft begins today at 7 p.m.

"I don't try to get caught up in the all of the speculation, but I do think I have the opportunity to begin my professional career," Morozowski said. "If it doesn't work out, I know I have a home in Mount Olive, and I would love to play with those guys another year.

"I'm not too worried about what's going to happen."