Matt Morris

Who is Matt Morris?

Matthew Christian Morris is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He retired on April 30, 2008.

Morris attended Valley Central High School in New York before starring at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, he was drafted 12th overall in the June 1995 free agent draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. Morris pitched in the minor leagues in 1996 and 1997. In 1996, led the Texas League with 4 shutouts while pitching for the Double-A Arkansas Travelers and led all Cardinal minor league pitchers with 175 innings pitched. In 1997, he reached the majors after only one game at Triple-A Louisville. In his first season, he won 12 games with a 3.19 ERA and finished tied for second in the Rookie of the Year voting, behind Scott Rolen.

In 1999, he underwent Tommy John surgery after he was injured in spring training. Morris became the ace of the Cardinals' pitching staff in 2001, earning his first All-Star selection and a 3rd place finish in the NL Cy Young voting. He won 22 games with 185 strikeouts and a 3.16 ERA. In 2002, he won 17 games and made his second All-Star appearance.

In 2004, Morris signed a one-year contract after he won 15 games on a Cardinals team that made the World Series. In 2004, he lost 10 games for the first time in his career and had a 4.72 ERA, also a career high.