Chico State Athletics

Grady Morgan's journey to becoming a starter on the Chico State baseball team has been constant, long, and winding one. But it appears he has arrived along with the start of the 2022 season. After redshirting in 2019—a year during which he endeared himself to the area by collecting a packed truck of supplies to donate to the Paradise Little League following the Camp Fire—Morgan was prepared to see his first collegiate action in 2020. But the season cut short due to COVID-19. Morgan did make an impression, going 2-for-5 with a double and a stolen base as a backup outfielder.
 
When the 2021 campaign was shut down as well, Morgan moved over to Butte Community College for what would still be his freshman season. He made as big a splash as possible. Morgan hit a blistering .422 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI to earn Pacific Association American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings Position Player of the Year honors.
 
Morgan led the Roadrunners to a 23-3 record and No. 2-ranking in the state while also racking up the following awards: California Community College Athletic Association North State Player of the Year; Golden Valley Conference Player of the Year; and Butte College Team MVP.
 
Those were not Morgan's first MVP accolades, as a senior at Laguna Beach High School, he was named the MVP of the Orange Coast League after leading the Breakers to their third consecutive league title.
 
Morgan is also a member of the Chico State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He was as a freshman as well when he turned a text from assistant coach Jose Garcia into a call to action for his entire community. Garcia asked if anyone had any extra baseball equipment they might consider donating to members of the Paradise Little League, most of whom had had lost everything in the fire. Morgan got the word out in the community, and they responded with generosity.
 
"Where I live it was a no-brainer, instantly," Morgan said at the time. "A town like Paradise is pretty similar to a town like Laguna Beach in terms of the value of banding together as a community."
 
He wound up with a U-Haul full of equipment to drive north to Chico. Community Service. League titles. MVP honors. Heading into his sophomore season of collegiate baseball, Grady Morgan has done so much already. He and the 25^th-ranked Wildcats start this season with a four-game series against Saint Martin's next weekend (February 4–6) at Nettleton Stadium with dreams of doing even more.