Kendrys Morales Rodríguez (born June 20, 1983) is a Cuban-Dominican[1] former professional baseball designated hitter and first baseman who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics, and the New York Yankees.

Morales is perhaps most infamous for suffering an ankle injury on May 29, 2010, during a celebration of his walk-off grand slam, which kept him out of Major League Baseball for nearly two years.

With 16- to 17-year-olds in the category, he was the first starter of the pitching staff, and fourth in the batting order, and had the ability to hit home runs from both sides of the plate.

In November 2003, he was sent back to Cuba from Panama during the qualifying round of the 2004 Olympics, for making contact with a sports agent; he did not play for the national team again.

Morales played winter ball in the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM) for the Estrellas Orientales to keep himself in game shape.

[3] By the spring of 2005, the Angels hoped to have Morales practice in the Cactus League to get ready for a quick ascension through their farm system or possibly even make the team as the designated hitter.

He was not able to get all his paperwork in order until late May and he finally made his minor league debut on May 21 for the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

He ultimately made his Major League debut on May 23, 2006, playing first base and going 3-for-5, including a home run in his second at bat, versus the Texas Rangers.

[6] Morales hit a walk-off grand slam off of Brandon League to end a 10-inning 5–1 victory over the Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 29, 2010.

[8] On March 22, 2012, nearly two years after his ankle injury, Morales returned to the lineup in a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals.

[11] On June 23, 2013, Morales hit a first-pitch three-run home run in the 10th inning against the Oakland Athletics after subbing for Brendan Ryan, leading to a 6–3 Mariners win at Safeco Field.

[14] On September 4, Morales hit a walk-off two-run homer off the Kansas City Royals to win the game 6–4 in the ninth inning.

On October 14, in the winner-take-all game 5 of the American League Divisional Series against the Houston Astros, Morales hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning to secure a 7–2 Royals win.

[27] On August 31, 2017, Morales became the first player in Blue Jays franchise history to have 4 hits, 3 home runs, and 7 RBIs in the same game when he did so in an 11–8 win against the Baltimore Orioles.

[28] Morales made his major league debut as a pitcher on May 20, 2018, and pitched a hitless ninth inning for the Blue Jays in a 9–2 loss to the Oakland Athletics.

[30] Starting on August 19, Morales hit a home run and continued a seven-game home run hit streak ending on August 26 to record the longest such streak in Blue Jays franchise history, and became the seventh person in MLB history to accomplish the feat.

[31][32] On March 27, 2019, the Blue Jays traded Morales and cash considerations to the Oakland Athletics for minor league infielder Jesus Lopez and international bonus money.