Morimoto’s
shoulder injury
limited his play

Rehab will continue in
Instructional League

By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

Ken Morimoto sincerely hopes the 1998 season starts for him in the Arizona Instructional League because the 1997 campaign was a bust.

In fact, since August of 1996, the former University of Hawaii-Hilo player via Waimea High School has played just four innings in the field -- all in blowout games -- in the Los Angeles Dodgers' farm system.

One terrible moment on the base paths while playing for Great Falls (Mont.) in the Pioneer League late during the 1996 season put Morimoto's career on hold, if not in jeopardy.

"I was in a rundown between third and home when I lost my balance and fell on my shoulder," Morimoto said.

An MRI was done in Montana and the damage to Morimoto's shoulder was such that the Dodgers sent him to Los Angeles where Dr. Frank Jobe performed reconstructive surgery.

"He really didn't have a season at all," Charlie Blaney, the Dodgers vice president for minor league operations, said. "He spent all season rehabilitating."

Morimoto's 65 at-bats with Vero Beach in the Class A Florida State League came almost exclusively as a designated hitter.

"I was happy I was playing, but I wasn't 100 percent, physically speaking," Morimoto said.

"I'm basically going to instructional league to continue rehabilitating the shoulder, work on my throwing mechanics and my switch hitting."

An outfielder in college, the Dodgers switched Morimoto to the infield and would like to see him at shortstop when he's healthy. They plan to start his comeback at second base in the instructional league.

"We like Kenny a lot," Blaney said. "He needs to get his throwing arm back in shape."

One thing the Dodgers liked is Morimoto's speed. He stole 11 bases in just 34 games last year and was one of the top base stealers in 1996 with 41 swipes while playing for three teams in the organization.

His wish right now is to be able to start on a regular basis. The quest to satisfy that desire begins with a month's work on hard work in the instructional league.

Ken Morimoto's
career statistics

Height: 6-0, Weight: 160, Throws: Right. Bats: Right

Schools: Waimea High School, University of Hawaii at Hilo

Batting record

Year, Team, League			G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	Avg.
1995-Yakima, Northwest League		55	178	27	48	4	2	0	14	.270
1996-Vero Beach, Florida State League	6	11	1	0	0	0	0	0	.000
1996-San Bernardino, California League	24	92	13	23	3	0	0	8	.250
1996-Great Falls, Pioneer League	32	123	40	35	3	1	1	12	.285
1997-Vero Beach, Florida State League	34	85	13	15	1	0	0	5	.176
Minor League totals			151	489	94	121	11	3	1	39	.247

Notes

Drafted in the 28th round, regular phase, by the Los Angeles Dodgers, June 4, 1995.

Statistical notes

Stole 19 bases for Yakima in 1995; 14 for San Bernardino; 27 for Great Falls in 1966, and 11 for Vero Beach in 1997.

Had the best stolen base ratio (87.1 percent on 27 of 31) and finished fourth in the Pioneer League in stolen bases (27) in 1996.

Earned Honorable Mention on 1996 Pioneer League All-Star team at shortstop despite missing 40 games with an injury.

Finished fifth overall in the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system in stolen bases (41) in 1996.