Morales is one of the most prolific power hitters in college baseball entering the 2023 season.
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound slugger led Miami in eight offensive categories a year ago, highlighted by 18 home runs, 59 RBI and a 1.061 OPS. Morales also batted .329, which ranked third on the team.
The NCAA Division I Southeast All-Region and All-ACC Second Team honoree became the 28th Hurricane all-time chosen to represent his country as part of the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. Morales posted a team-high .400 average, eight hits and four RBI during Honkbalweek Haarlem, as the USA garnered the bronze medal.
Miami has had 15 players named to the preseason Golden Spikes Award watch list since 2008. Chris Hernandez (2009-10), Zack Collins (2015-16) and Adrian Del Castillo (2020-21) each were two-time selections, while Yonder Alonso (2008), Jemile Weeks (2008), Ryan Jackson (2009), Yasmani Grandal (2010), Harold Martinez (2011), Peter O’Brien (2012), Andrew Suarez (2015), Carl Chester (2017), Chris McMahon (2020), Alex Toral (2021) and Carson Palmquist (2021) preceded Morales as preseason picks.
Fan voting will again play a part in the golden spikes award in 2023. Amateur baseball fans can vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com, beginning on May 22 with the naming of the semifinalists. USA baseball will announce the finalists for the award on June 7, and fan voting will once again open at GoldenSpikesAward.com before closing on June 21.
To keep up with the University of Miami baseball team on social media, follow @CanesBaseball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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