When it was announced that the Dodgers had re-acquired 36-year-old right-hander Brandon Morrow on a minor league deal back on December 11, 2020, it undoubtedly made many Dodger fans say ‘Huh.’

The reason, of course, is because even though Morrow was very successful during his previous stint with the Dodgers in 2017 (6-0 with a stellar 2.06 ERA in the 45 games in which he appeared), the Santa Rosa, CA native and first-round draft pick in 2006 by the Seattle Mariners out of UC Berkley had some serious health issues with his 100-MPH-throwing right arm. In fact, he underwent elbow debridement surgery in 2019, causing him to miss the entire 2020 season while spending time at his home and mountain home with his family, having been released by the Chicago Cubs in July of 2019.

“Figured I’d just get out of town,” Morrow told reporters during his Zoom media conference on Saturday afternoon. “Was able to take my mind off it, pretend I was retired, be a dad.”

Come to find out, Morrow was among the very first free agents that Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman sought out shortly after hoisting the 2020 World Series trophy at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX. In fact, Friedman had actually first contacted Morrow shortly after his surgery in 2019.

“Andrew reached out really early,” said Morrow. “I was released in July [2019] at some point, and not too long after that, I got a text message from him kind of saying we’d love to have you back and whenever I felt like I was going to be healthy and if I needed some more time then at that point to let him know. So I had an offer very, very early to come back.

“So I put my eye on it and started working out about October 1st [2020] and really getting after it and doing all I could, and I hope it turns out,” added Morrow.

Throughout his 12-year MLB career, Morrow has been used primarily as a leverage reliever, which Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said his role would be with the Dodgers this time around. But with the struggles that Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen has had of late, might Morrow be open to taking on the closer role or perhaps a long-relief role?

“I’m open to anything that gets me back to pitching in the major leagues, I’ll tell you that,” Morrow answered with a smile. “I don’t know that … I haven’t done long relief, I haven’t thrown more than probably an inning and a third since I started last in 2015.

“I’m definitely capable of it, but it all depends on what you’re built up for and what they expect out of you,” he continued. “I think I’ve always had the stuff, the mentality to be a late-innings/one-inning guy. I’ve kind of done it all, so I’m very comfortable in almost every situation.”

Obviously, as a non-roster invitee, Morrow has to make the team before worrying about what his role might be. But judging by his track record, his successful first bullpen session on Friday morning, and most importantly, his attitude, you’ve got to like his chances.

Play Ball!

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