CHICAGO -- It only took two pitches for Christopher Morel to feel at home at Wrigley Field again.
Facing the Cubs for the first time since they traded him to the Rays before last year’s Trade Deadline, Morel stepped to the plate in his return to his first home big league ballpark with two on and none out in the top of the first.
After swinging through Chicago starter Matthew Boyd’s curveball for a strikeout, Morel unleashed on a 93.5 mph four-seamer. He drove the ball a Statcast-projected 383 feet at 107.4 mph into the left-field bleachers for a three-run home run and putting Tampa Bay up three.
“I didn't wake up wanting to hit a home run or thinking about hitting a home run,” Morel said through interpreter Eddie Rodriguez. “It just happened, and I give all the glory to God, because it happened. It was a very special moment.”
Unfortunately, that early lead didn’t last, as starter Shane Baz was charged with five runs across the second and third innings. The Rays couldn’t put together a big rally and ultimately fell to the Cubs, 6-4, on Friday afternoon.
Tampa Bay suffered its sixth loss in seven games, and dropped seven games back of the third American League Wild Card spot. Despite the end result, for a team looking to snap out of a funk from the past week, Morel’s blast was an early boost.
It also served as sort of a callback to the start of Morel's Major League career.
Morel was brought straight up from Double-A on May 17, 2022, and in a pinch-hit opportunity that night, he hammered his first home run 417 feet over the left-field bleachers at Wrigley. His homer Friday didn’t go quite as far as his debut round-tripper, but it was a special moment that his teammates celebrated.
“It was cool,” said Baz, who finished with five runs allowed over 2 1/3 innings. “He's probably one of the nicest guys I've ever played with, and I think everybody was just really happy for him.”
Tampa Bay acquired Morel on July 28, 2024, as part of the deal that sent Isaac Paredes to Chicago. He struggled over those final two months of the season, hitting .191 with a .547 OPS after joining the Rays.
Things have improved some this season, as Morel has posted a .221 batting average and a .701 OPS through Friday, but his opportunities have also been limited. Whereas he had 611 plate appearances last season, he’s gotten 276 in 2025. Morel has also appeared in just 96 of Tampa’s 147 games, entering 24 of those as a pinch-hitter.
That can be a tough role for any hitter, but Morel has kept an upbeat attitude despite not seeing the field on a daily basis.
“That's one thing that he has been extremely consistent at is, he's going to be a positive attitude, he's going to be a light in the clubhouse,” Brandon Lowe said. “If there's a spot for him to pick guys up or celebrate with a guy for a home run or whatnot, he's going to make sure that he's up there doing everything he can to make a positive impact on the team.
“It's honestly really impressive, because there's not a single soul in baseball that doesn't want to play every single day. When you're not playing every single day, it can wear on you. He's definitely not showing any signs of wear.”
People gravitated toward Morel’s positivity during the first few years of his career. Looking at the reception from those in the ballpark reflects that.
Before the game, Morel greeted plenty of former teammates and coaches and even some of the regular on-field security guards. He signed autographs and took pictures with fans up and down both base lines.
Then, when Morel stepped to the plate in the first inning, the crowd applauded, showing appreciation for some of the moments he gave them. His energy and enthusiasm helped him become a fan favorite, and the Chicago fans in attendance let him know that.
Of course, once Morel launched that ball over the left-center wall, only Rays fans were left cheering, while Cubs fans sent some boos his way.
But Morel, happy with his new opportunity in his new organization, didn’t seem to mind.
“I thank God for making that [home run] possible,” he said. “I can control what I can control. Like, first [the fans] were applauding, and then they were booing. It's all part of it.”