Cody Morissette had a productive prep career at Exeter High School in New Hampshire. But Morissette wasn’t a highly-regarded prospect for the 2018 MLB draft, despite his statistical production and the potential he displayed in all facets of the game throughout his prep career.
Playing in the Northeast against average high school talent likely was a big factor in the lack of professional attention, he believes. Morissette went undrafted and honored his commitment to Boston College instead.
That personal experience has motivated Morissette. In his first 2½ years at Boston College, Morissette has developed into one of the top college baseball players. The junior infielder enters this spring as a highly-regarded draft prospect and a potential first-round pick in July’s draft.
“I had a couple of teams talking to me and was a part of the tryouts and stuff, but I didn’t have much attention out of high school,” said Morissette on the draft. “That has motivated me to get to where I am now.”
Morissette made an immediate impact as a freshman at Boston College in 2019. He hit .320 with 20 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 41 RBIs in 231 at-bats in 58 games.
Last spring, Morissette was off to another strong start before the college baseball season ended prematurely due to COVID-19. He posted a .448 batting average with six doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs in 58 at-bats in 15 games.
In his time at Boston College, Morissette has refined his well-balanced set of tools.
The 6-foot, 175-pound left-handed hitter has a quick swing with an advanced approach and notable bat-to-ball skills. He hits for average and is a gap-to-gap hitter. He should add more strength to his frame in the future, which will likely translate into more power.
“I would say the biggest strength in my game right now is my bat and how much I compete at the plate,” Morissette said. “It was a bit of a change coming from New Hampshire to ACC pitching my first fall. I really struggled. We made some adjustments with my approach and taking more reps off a machine with velo. Once I started to get my timing down, everything clicked my freshman year.”
This offseason, Morissette is focused on refining all aspects of his game, he said.
In his first two years at Boston College, Morissette has displayed versatility defensively. He played second base his freshman year and then third base as a sophomore last year. Morissette is unsure of what his defensive position will be this spring, as the coaching staff will determine that during spring practices, he said.
Morissette played shortstop in high school. He is a solid athlete who has soft hands and enough arm strength to play shortstop but likely profiles better at second base in pro ball. Morissette doesn’t have a preference on what position he plays long-term, he said.
“I like being versatile,” Morissette said. “I like moving around and being really good at all three positions.”
Morissette isn’t the only top draft prospect at Boston College. Outfielder Sal Frelick and right-handed pitcher Mason Pelio also are potential first-round picks in July’s draft.
Morissette and Frelick played against each other in high school. They also have been roommates in their time at Boston College. The camaraderie the duo share has helped one another develop their baseball skills throughout their first 2½ years in college.
Expectations are high for Boston College this season due to the team’s plethora of talent. The Eagles haven’t qualified for the NCAA tournament since 2016, but Morissette believes that will change this spring. The last time Boston College advanced to the College World Series was in 1967.
“We all know we have a really good team and that we have a lot of talent,” Morissette said. “We really just want to lock in on one goal and that’s going to Omaha this year. That is what we are all thinking. If we work hard and stick together, everything is going to work out.”
Read more in-depth stories on top 2021 MLB draft prospects at Baseball Prospect Journal.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for six years. He’s interviewed 253 of the top draft prospects in that period, including three No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com and The Arizona Republic, have quoted his work, while he’s appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
