By Tom Seipp, Sports Editor
St. Bonaventure University hasn’t seen any of their former players appear in a Major League Baseball game since 1962. While the team has seen many go through the Minor League Baseball system, there hasn’t been one who has made the show quite yet.
But, if you tuned into the 2019 MLB Home Run Derby, you would’ve seen a former Bonnie right in the middle of things.
Derek Morgan spent the first two years of his collegiate life at St. Bonaventure, redshirting his first season before playing his second season.
His time at the school was short lived, but it was a time that Morgan enjoyed.
“It was a very comforting and fitting place for me starting my journey of life,” Morgan said. “Baseball brought me to the great little town of Olean. I thought the campus was a perfect fit for what I was looking for and knew the class sizes would be small enough for the teachers to really be able to have a connection with each individual in the classes.”
Coming from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, St. Bonaventure and head coach Larry Sudbrook gave Morgan the chance to play Division-I baseball.
“My relationship with Coach Sudbrook was pretty good. He gave me an opportunity to live one of my goals I set for myself in high school: to play Division-I baseball,” Morgan said. “Of course, we both enjoy hunting, so we could talk about hunting stories for days.”
Morgan’s time at St. Bonaventure was shorter than anticipated, as he transferred to Indiana Tech after just one season of play due to his eagerness to play and financials.
“Looking back, I’ve said it a couple times, I wish I would’ve known what could’ve been if I stayed at St. Bonaventure,” Morgan said. “I have said multiple times to my wife that I feel like I missed out, or I just wonder what it could have been because I did enjoy my time as a Bonnie. I missed my teammates that I had for two years, made a lot of great friends while I was there and unfortunately just kind of lost that connection.”
Morgan stayed close to baseball after his playing years, becoming an assistant varsity coach for Woodridge High School after graduating from Indiana Tech in 2015.
But, it wasn’t until 2019 when Morgan was getting his arm ready each day when he was asked to pitch in the MLB Home Run Derby by his second cousin, New York Mets 1B Pete Alonso.
Alonso and Morgan have had a relationship since they were younger attending family reunions, as Alonso is Morgan’s dad’s cousin’s oldest son.
The two weren’t overly in contact until they reached high school, as they both had the same dreams and goals in mind: playing Division-I baseball.
In 2012, the Bonnies traveled to Florida to take on Mount St. Mary’s. Morgan was able to go watch one of Alonso’s high school games, where he went 4-for-4 with two doubles and an opposite field home run and Alonso and his family were able to return the favor to come to a St. Bonaventure game. Morgan remembers Sudbrook talking to him and Alonso after the game, asking Alonso if he wanted to become a Bonnie.
When Alonso made the Opening Day roster for the Mets in 2019, Morgan and his parents drove to Washington D.C. to watch his debut. After the game, they went out to dinner and Alonso asked Morgan, “Well, how’s your bp?”
Confused, Morgan responded, saying “I don’t know, I think it’s pretty good. My high schoolers seem to like it. Why?”
“I might need you mid-summer,” Alonso responded.
After just one game, where Alonso only recorded a single up-the-middle, he was already preparing for the Home Run Derby in July.
As the season went on, Alonso’s home run totals kept going up. The possibility of Alonso being included was becoming a reality.
Morgan was on his way to a bachelor party with his best friend when he got a call from Alonso.
Morgan said the call was short and sweet, with Alonso saying “Cuzzo, we made it! Get ready, I’m flying you to Atlanta and then New York for the Subway Series to practice!”
In Atlanta in the practice rounds, Morgan’s batting practice to Alonso was money. Alonso didn’t want a single thing changed. It was practice as usual for Morgan.
But, once the time came at Progressive Field, things became a little more nerve-racking.
Alonso started off against Carlos Santana, who Morgan, growing up an Indians fan, called his hometown hero. With Alonso being booed since he was opposing the Indians first baseman, Morgan became a little shaky, but his competitiveness helped him become more zoned in and finish the round with the win.
Alonso went on to beat Santana, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to win the 2019 Home Run Derby,
“The excitement is very hard to describe. It was such an awesome experience and amazing feeling because I know how bad he wanted to win,” Morgan said. “It really just felt like a dream and I know we both never wanted to wake up. I still get chills and feel like it was a dream to this day.”
It wasn’t just the Home Run Derby that Morgan was able to experience in Cleveland.
“Being in attendance for All Star Weekend was incredible, Cleveland and the MLB did a great job with the entire weekend. I mean, nothing will ever compare to Home Run Derby night and basically being a big leaguer for a day,” Morgan said. “Having my own locker and having conversations with Jacob deGrom, Jeff McNeil, J.T. Realmuto, Charlie Blackmon, Nolan Arenado and Max Scherzer. I mean the list goes on! What an amazing experience for being able to live my dream growing up for a day.”
Now, Morgan is married to his wife living in his home state of Ohio. But, who knows, when the Home Run Derby returns in 2021, maybe we’ll see Alonso and Morgan back out on the field.
seipp19@bonaventure.edu
