Lions Sign Former Vipers Defenceman Morgan:

The Caracas Lions have signed former Vernon Vipers defenceman-
former major leaguer Nyjer Morgan.

The Caracas Base Ball Club (CBC) (English: Caracas Lions) is a Venezuelan baseball team that currently plays in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League.

Morgan played summer ball with the Puebla Pericos (English: Puebla Parakeets) a team from Mexico. Played last season with the South Korean Hanwha Eagles. Morgan signed with the Eagles on December 12th 2014 was kicked out of the Eagles preseason baseball camp in February 2015 before returning to the ball club on a later date. Morgan was released after playing in just ten games. 

Morgan was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 33rd round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft. On September 1st 2007 Morgan made his major league debut for the Pirates against the Milwaukee Brewers as a late-season call-up. On June 30 2009 Morgan was traded to the Washington Nationals along with pitcher Sean Burnett in exchange for outfielder Lastings Milledge and pitcher Joel Hanrahan. On March 27 2011 Morgan was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for prospect Cutter Dykstra (son of baseball player Lenny Dykstra). After playing for three MLB teams, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Washington Morgan elected free agency played the 2013 season in Japan with the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Yokohama DeNa BayStars. Morgan would return to the Majors in 2014 where he played with the Cleveland Indians.  After just playing in 15 games spending most of his time with the Tribe on the DL Morgan was released on August 5th 2014 
before heading to South Korea last season.

Morgan attended the Vernon Vipers Training camp in 1996-97. Morgan played as an affiliated player "AP" as a 16 year old with the Vipers during the (1996-1997) season while playing with the KIJHL North Okanagan Kings.

Nyjer Morgan's Player Profile:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/morgany01.shtml

This was posted on the LVBP.com website:

Lions announced the imported Nyjer Morgan and Deunte Heath

9/29/2016

Nyjer Morgan comes to play with Puebla

Andreina Salas Guzman | Press Leones del Caracas

Caracas.- The Caracas Lions hired outfielder Nyjer Morgan and pitcher Deunte Heath as part of the 2016-2017 season import of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League.

Both outsiders are scheduled to arrive in the country this weekend to be in uniform with the team from the first day of the season.

Morgan will make his premiere in winter baseball with the Lions. However, he played in the majors between 2007 and 2012 and then returned for the 2014 campaign. In those years he wore the uniforms of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Nationals, Milwaukee Brewers and Cleveland Indians.

For life in the majors, Morgan left a .282 batting average in which he gave 74 doubles, 27 triples, 12 home runs and drove in 136 runs. The outfielder is an aggressive player with steals ability (120 in 598 MLB matches) and a solid defense.

This year, Morgan was titled champion in the Mexican League of Baseball with the Pericos of Puebla. In the regular round, he hit .306 with 25 doubles, two trebles, 11 homers and 58 RBIs in 101 games. In addition, he stole 22 bases and traded 52 tickets, while striking out 54 times.

"Morgan is the type of player that fits the profile of that first bat we are always looking for," said Luis Avila, president of the organization. "He is a contact hitter, good speed and the expectation of a player who adds to his good defense the possibility of unbalancing at bat to the rivals. We expect a lot from him given his experience. "

"He is a fast outfield, especially central fielder, with good defense and good arm to pitch to the bases," added manager Alfredo Pedrique. "He is a warrior baller, very skilled with base and aggressive running. His experience will help us very much as first bat because he knows to base and steal pads. I'm sure the fan will enjoy her way of playing baseball. "

Jose Manuel Fernandez, the team's sports manager, added that Morgan comes with good recommendations from other players on the team.

"There are several of our players who had the opportunity to play with him in the past and others who played against him this year in Mexico," he said. "Particularly Jesus Guzman was one of the first who saw it and recommended it. From the first moment that the possibility was considered, Pedrique agreed. We started talking to him and we were able to hire him to be that first bat and center fielder we were looking for. "