This is one of those stories where your heart and your head might not be on speaking terms. Charlie Morton, the veteran right-hander with that signature high-spin curveball and a reputation for postseason poise, is no longer on the mound for the Atlanta Braves.
While that departure stung some fans this offseason, it’s increasingly clear that the front office knew exactly what it was doing.
Morton’s Braves Legacy Was No Small Thing
Let’s rewind for a second. Morton wasn’t just a warm body in the rotation—he was a stabilizer, a leader, and, at times, a strikeout machine. From 2021 to 2024, he spun 686.1 innings of mostly reliable baseball, punched out 771 batters, and carried a 3.87 ERA. Most teams would take that kind of production in a heartbeat, especially from a veteran arm.
Sure, there were blemishes—269 walks over that span isn’t ideal—but his steady presence and October experience made him a valuable asset. So when the Braves chose not to bring him back for the 2025 season, a lot of fans were puzzled. Was it age? Performance? A clubhouse decision? Maybe a bit of everything.
The Baltimore Experiment Has Been a Disaster
Enter the Baltimore Orioles, who clearly thought there was some gas left in the tank. They handed Morton a one-year, $15 million deal to help anchor their staff. But what they’ve received so far is anything but anchor-like.
Morton is 0-7 with a jaw-dropping 9.38 ERA across 31.2 innings. He’s leading the majors in earned runs allowed and tops the American League in walks. It’s been a rough watch, especially for Braves fans who hoped to see their old ace thrive elsewhere, even if from afar.
When a Signature Pitch Becomes a Liability
The real eye-opener lies in how dramatically his signature pitch has failed him. That curveball—once one of the nastiest in baseball—is now getting hammered. Opponents are batting .357 with a .667 slugging percentage against it.
Last year, his groundball rate with the pitch was in the 75th percentile. This season, it’s dropped into the 39th percentile. The pitch’s run value has cratered to -7, a complete reversal from the positive territory it occupied just a year ago.
And here’s the kicker: his fastball is still working. Hitters are only batting .171 against it, and he’s averaging 93.8 mph. But in today’s game, you can’t survive on just one pitch—not when your secondary offerings are getting torched by big-league bats.
A Difficult Goodbye, But the Right One For the Braves
So yes, parting ways with Charlie Morton wasn’t easy. He was a consummate pro and a big part of Atlanta’s recent success. But the Braves made a tough call rooted in forward-looking baseball sense. And judging by how things are playing out in Baltimore, it was the right move.
Sometimes the numbers paint an unkind picture, even for a guy who’s earned every ounce of respect in the clubhouse and beyond. Father Time remains undefeated, and for Charlie Morton, that reality may be setting in pitch by pitch.
