After prank Single-A scare, Morris makes The Show

This story was excerpted from Mandy Bell's Guardians Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Cody Morris was confused for just a brief moment.

He was called into Triple-A Columbus manager Andy Tracy’s office to talk about the plan to stretch him out as a starter for the remainder of the season … in Single-A.

Morris knew it was a possibility he’d be brought up to the big leagues once September rolled around. After beginning his rehab assignment in early August following a long recovery period from a teres major muscle strain, the plan was to work his pitch count up but to also get him comfortable working out of the bullpen just in case there was a need for him with the Guardians.

So when Morris was told he was being sent down to strictly work on lengthening out as a starter, he was confused.

“I was like, 'What?' I couldn't believe it,” Morris said, before revealing the big moment when Tracy gave him the real news. “He was like, 'Make sure to stop by Progressive on your way in, that's where you're going.'”

This was the much-anticipated moment Morris has been waiting for. Just two years ago, he was on the beach trying to find friends, cousins or even just a wall to throw with to keep himself ready throughout the pandemic-canceled Minor League season. Last year, Morris dealt with lat problems that limited him to 15 games (14 starts) between Rookie ball, Double-A and Triple-A. When he returned to big league camp this spring, he ended up dealing with the shoulder strain and never got to pitch in front of the big league coaching staff.

After so much time and effort, Morris has made it to the big leagues.

“It's a dream come true,” Morris said, with an ear-to-ear grin. “I've been hurt a lot, ups and downs, lots of bumps in the road. But to make it here is really a dream come true.”

How Morris will make an impact with the big league club remains to be seen. He made the start in his debut, going two innings against Seattle, but may also pitch out of the bullpen going forward. He joins Ernie Clement as the Guardians’ two September callups. Working out of the bullpen is different for Morris, but it’s not foreign now that he’s had experience doing so over the past month with Columbus. In fact, it’s something that he’s thoroughly enjoyed and thinks he could thrive doing.

“The adrenaline rush, it's fun,” Morris said. “I've started all my life, so just kind of used to that. Getting thrown in the seventh, sixth, eighth inning, whatever it is, coming out there, the adrenaline rush is different. It's a lot of fun. It's just a different experience, but I've really enjoyed it.”