Welcome Brandon Morrow!!

The Jays acquired the hard-throwing right-hander from Seattle on Wednesday in exchange for RP Brandon League and 20-year-old OF prospect Johermyn Chavez. The 25-year-old former 5th overall pick in the 2006 draft is expected to be developed as a starting pitcher by the Jays after splitting time both in the rotation and in the bullpen with the Mariners.

It's an exciting day to be a Jays fan! Roughly a week after losing Roy Halladay via trade to the Phillies, the Jays have added an electric young arm to their rotation. Morrow was selected 5th overall by the Mariners in the 2006 draft.

Here's the book on Morrow's stuff via prospectinsider.com's 12.19.08 Scouting Report:

Repertoire

Fastball:
In relief, Morrow often tagged 97 or 98 on the radar gun, even wowing the crowds, home and road, with a few triple-digit readings, though the stadium guns are generally 2-4 mph high.

He sat 92-96 as a starter, and his heater has always had impressive late life and good movement. With average command, Morrow's fastball would grade between a 70 and 80 on the scouting scale.

Curve Ball:
Having thrown so few of them, Morrow's curve was inconsistent, but showed good depth and late, two-plane break. It's generally clocked in the 84-86 mph range, an ideal dip in velocity from his fastball, and is often confused with a slider due to its downward spike.

At present, Morrow's curve grades out as a 50 on the scouting scale, due to the lack of consistency and command, but it's action and velocity are above-average. The pitch could max out as a 60 or 65 with more progress in 2009.

Changeup:
Morrow dabbled with a true change in college, but settled in with the splitter. The Mariners wanted to eliminate the split-finger pitch to avoid elbow and forearm problems, and Morrow's change has begun to take shape.

Sitting in the 82-85 mph range with occasional fade, Morrow does throw it with good arm speed and deception.

While his breaking ball is his most critical pitch to further develop for him to become a No. 3 starter, the same improvements to his changeup could flip Morrow into near-ace status.

Command/Control:
Morrow issued 78 walks in just over 150 innings at Cal, and issued 50 more during his rookie season in 2007. But last season the right-hander showed vast progress, attacking the strike zone with confidence and a better second pitch, usually the split-change.

He's never going to possess plus command, but his overall control has improved enough for a long career in either the starting rotation or the bullpen, or both.