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Why Cubs coach Willie Harris was sold on Christopher Morel a year ago

2 years agoColleen Johnson

Third base coach Willie Harris had his eye on Christopher Morel before he got called up. Harris said he realized that Morel was a star last year during Spring Training. 

“Throwing BP to him, watching him swing the bat, his energy level’s high, his motor’s high,” Harris said in an interview on Cubs Live! Friday. “He brings energy, he brings excitement, he can play all over the field. He’s definitely been a huge shot in the arm for us.”

With new players like Morel, Harris said as a coach he feels a responsibility to help them stay in the majors. 

“You’ve heard before ‘it’s easy to get here, it’s hard to stay here’ because at some point these other teams are going to get a book on you,” Harris said. “They’re going to figure you out and they’re going to figure out what your weaknesses are. And that’s where we come in because these kids, they need us now more than ever.

“This is their opportunity to play at the biggest stage of their lives and at the biggest stage of this game. And we have to give them the energy, the passion, the love, everything they need so they can go out and perform on the field like he’s been doing.”

Morel wasn’t the only player Harris highlighted. When asked who are the best baserunners on the team, Harris confidently answered Patrick Wisdom, Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ and Jason Heyward. 

Other topics Harris discussed included:

-Why so many MLB players are having difficulty scoring from second base

-His view on the importance of a good secondary lead

-The value of intangibles 

-What the Cubs can do to maintain their early leads

And of course, the interview ended with Harris showing his shirt that said “drippy,” which made Cole Wright say Harris needs to change his nickname from “Willie Chill” to “Willie Drip.”

Check out the full video above for more from Harris and the Cubs.

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