Rich Morales played two seasons, then found himself at Pocatello, Idaho, in 1991, as manager of the co-op rookie Pocatello Pioneers.
At age 26, his hometown Pacifica Tribune wrote.
"I wasn't expecting this," the former player told The Tribune that August. "I thought I'd be playing this year. But after I got released by the Mariner organization, I figured this was a good way to stay in the game."
Morales then stayed in the game for a long career, as a manager and coach in the minors and in college, then as a scout.
Morales' brief playing career began in 1989, signed by the Mariners as an undrafted free agent out of the University of San Francisco.
Morales' father, Rich Morales, Sr., also played pro, making the majors over eight seasons and later coaching and managing in the minors.
Morales Jr., started with the Mariners at single-A San Bernardino. He saw 42 games and hit .327. He returned to San Bernardino to start 1990.
In one July 1990 game, the catcher Morales spoke to The San Bernardino County Sun after an extra inning win where his pitchers got into and out of trouble.
"That's what baseball is all about," Morales told The Sun.
Morales then got two games at AAA Calgary. He saw 36 total games on the year and hit .232 to end his brief playing career.
Morales then turned coach and manager. He coached at rookie Ogdan, then at Western Michigan University and at short-season Vermont with the Expos in 1998.
He then became a scout. In 2018, he earned the Jim Russo Scout of the Year award with the Orioles.
- San Bernardino County Sun, July 8, 1990: Spirit down Riverside in 10 innings, 6-5
- Pacifica Tribune, Aug. 7, 1991: Morales is youngest manager in pro baseball
Made the Majors:1,403-32.2%
Never Made Majors:2,954-67.8%-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors:352
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