On Wednesday morning, Nationals center fielder Nyjer Morgan was eating a fruit cup by his locker when he was reminded that he will have a hearing with league officials on Friday at 10 a.m.

ET at Nationals Park.

Morgan is appealing two suspensions, totaling 15 games, for hitting a fan with a ball at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia; trying to knock down Cardinals catcher Bryan Anderson, even though Anderson didnt have possession of the ball; using inappropriate language toward fans at Sun Life Stadium; and having a physical altercation with Marlins right-hander Chris Volstad.

On Sept.

1, Morgan charged the mound in the sixth inning and threw a punch at Volstad, who had thrown a pitch behind the left-handed hitter.

Two innings earlier, Volstad hit Morgan in the lower back.

Morgan went on to steal two bases in the inning, even though Washington was down, 14-3.

The Nationals ended up losing the game, 16-10.

The Marlins had a problem with Morgan dating to the day before, when he barreled into catcher Brett Hayes, who suffered a separated shoulder on the play.

“I guess its my time to plead my case, and let it go from there,” Morgan said.

After the brawl in Florida, Morgan drew a lot of negative media attention.

Nationals third-base coach Pat Listach, however, defended Morgan, saying hes a good person who had a bad week.

“Nyjer is a great guy,” said Listach, who recently served a two-game suspension for his involvement in the brawl.

“You ask around the league, all the umpires respect him, and they all like him.

He brings a lot of energy in the clubhouse.

In my opinion, Nyjer had a bad week, and it was blown up.”

Nationals reliever Sean Burnett has been Morgans teammates since 2007, when they were in the Pirates organization.

Burnett has seen Morgans best side.

“He is lovable and is all smiles.

He brings energy to the ballpark and the team,” Burnett said.

“I think [the recent incidents] got blown out of proportion.

What you saw on TV is not the guy that I know.

He is one of those likable guys in the clubhouse.”

Morgan maintains that he didnt do anything wrong in Philadelphia, against Anderson or the Marlins, but he regrets the way he taunted the fans as he walked off the field after the fight with Volstad.

“I should get off [for the incident] in Philadelphia,” Morgan said.

“Plus, people are coming to my defense.

That one is a no-brainer.”

“The other incidents, well find out.

I dont think I will escape from the brawl.

But everything else, I havent done anything.

The only thing I feel that I did wrong was the way [I carried myself after the fight].

Im apologetic for [the inappropriate language].

”

Morgan also believes the controversy involving Anderson wouldnt have been an issue if Nationals manager Jim Riggleman hadnt criticized him in front of members of the media.

On Aug.

28 against the Cardinals, it looked like Willie Harris hit a bases-clearing double, but Ivan Rodriguez pushed Morgan back to home plate when Morgan missed the plate while trying to knock down Anderson.

Third-base umpire Angel Hernandez called Morgan out, because a live baserunner cannot be touched or aided by a teammate or coach.

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