WKU News

When you’re a pitcher like Ben Morrison, suffering a shoulder injury isn’t the best thing for your baseball career. But when you’re a biology major (with pre-med concentration) like Ben Morrison, suffering a shoulder injury might be the best thing for your medical career.

“I was always interested in science but I wasn’t really sure if medicine was something I wanted to do. My dad (Keith) is a surgeon. He does a good job and he loves his job. Growing up it wasn’t something I wanted to do necessarily. Then once I had shoulder surgery I was like this is something I enjoy and I want to help athletes. I want to pursue that as a profession. That experience definitely spurred my interest in medicine a little bit more.”

Morrison, a Bowling Green native, returned to the WKU bullpen in 2017 after missing the 2016 season while recovering from labrum surgery. He is expected to be the team’s closer in 2018.

While preparing for his final season on the Hill, Morrison continues to focus on his studies and is applying for medical school. He also remains involved with campus organizations like Global Brigades and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. “That’s the spiritual aspect of my life. I can help student-athletes and regular students come and connect with Jesus and grow in their faith. That’s an important part of my life right now.”

Morrison’s WKU experience has become more personal since arriving as a freshman in 2014. “I was born and raised here. I remember coming to baseball games, football games and basketball games as a kid with my parents. I just always loved Western, loved the atmosphere here, loved the familiarity of it.  I always wanted to play college baseball so the fact that I got to play here and stay in town was a great deal.”