| AB | 43 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .256 |
| OBP | .347 |
| SLG | .372 |
| HR | 0 |
- Full name Gabriel Jose Moreno
- Born 02/14/2000 in Barquisimeto, Venezuela
- Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- Debut 06/11/2022
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
BA Grade/Risk: 65/Medium
Track Record: The Blue Jays signed Moreno in 2016 for just $25,000 at the age of 16 out of Venezuela. Since then, he has blossomed into one of the top prospects in baseball. Moreno progressed steadily over his first few seasons in the organization, first displaying advanced plate discipline and defense in consecutive seasons in the Dominican Summer League and the Gulf Coast League. He made adjustments to his swing to tap into more power before his 2019 season with Low-A Lansing, and the changes and resulting production helped cement him as one of the top catching prospects in the low minors. He made further adjustments at Double-A New Hampshire in 2021 to produce additional power and was on his way to a banner season before a fractured thumb in late June put him on the injured list for two months. He returned to finish the year at Triple-A Buffalo and further enhanced his standing with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League. Moreno began 2022 at Triple-A Buffalo and continued to impress offensively. He hit .315/.386/.420 over 62 games and made his major league debut on June 11. He hit .315/.356/.377 in 25 games with the Blue Jays and made their American League Wild Card Series roster.
Scouting Report: Always an elite hitter, Moreno continues to make contact at one of the highest rates of any prospect. He possesses superior hand-eye coordination and a discerning eye that he uses to identify spin quickly out of the pitcher's hand. His swing plane has flattened out, and he is naturally comfortable shooting pitches on the outer half of the plate to the opposite field. After showing increased power and more aggressiveness in two-strike counts in previous seasons, Moreno has become a more conservative hitter as he's moved up the ladder. His two-strike swing has become more subdued, leading to an increase in line drives and ground balls and a corresponding decrease in fly balls and exit velocity numbers. His power production has dropped as a result, but he has the bat control, pitch recognition and strength to make adjustments and get to 12-15 home run power in the future. Moreno faces few questions about his ability to stick at catcher as an above-average defender with a plus arm. He is an adept receiver, gets out of the crouch quickly on throws and is a twitchy, fluid mover behind the plate. He's a good blocker and pitch-framer and shows the ability to manage games in the moment.
The Future: Moreno got on-the-job training in MLB in 2022. He made appearances at second base, third base and left field in order to increase his flexibility, but his future is behind the plate. He'll have the opportunity to seize a larger share of the catching duties in 2023 and could be on his way to becoming an all-star.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 70. Power: 45. Speed: 40. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60. -
Track Record: Moreno had good hand-eye coordination as an amateur, but he was a lower-profile signing out of Venezuela as a 16-year-old in 2016 for $25,000. He made his debut in 2017 in the Dominican Summer League, where he struck out just five times in 135 plate appearances but also had just five extra-base hits. Moreno’s stock rose the following year in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, and swing changes helped him tap into more power in 2019 at Low-A Lansing to become one of the game’s better catching prospects in the lower levels. In 2021, everything clicked for Moreno. He drew glowing reviews for his well-rounded mix of hitting ability, power, athleticism and defense while crushing Double-A pitching until he missed all of July and August with a broken right thumb that required surgery. He returned in September and finished the season with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Moreno has an elite combination of hitting actions, bat speed, contact skills and quickness in the batter’s box. He had just a 15% strikeout rate in 2021 and has been difficult to strike out throughout his career. Moreno’s quick, efficient swing and bat-to-ball ability helps him turn around premium velocity on the inner third and counter pitchers who attack at the top of the zone, with a special knack for barreling those pitches. Moreno’s swing evolved in the past to incorporate more dynamic, athletic movements, which helped him tap into more power. The last two years, Moreno has maintained that swing while getting significantly stronger, with his maximum exit velocities jumping from the low 100s to 108 mph. The result has been a more complete hitter who makes frequent contact, uses the whole field and has at least average power that he gets to in games. Moreno has always been an aggressive hitter. He chased or swung at borderline pitches too often early in his career, but he has steadily become more selective and posted a 9% walk rate in 2021. Moreno’s defense has made significant progress over the years, as well. His lively athleticism helps him move well behind the plate and his arm has improved to a plus tool. That arm strength, along with a quick release, helps him record sub-1.9 second pop times to second base. He also has improved his blocking and receiving, with no passed balls allowed in 29 games behind the plate in 2021. Moreno has caught just 139 regular season games, with little of that time coming at the upper levels, so he’s still learning the finer points of game-calling.
The Future: Moreno has a chance to be a perennial all-star as a plus to plus-plus hitter with 20-25 home runs and above-average defense at a premium position. He should be ready to contribute to the Blue Jays at some point in 2022 and eventually become an impact player in their lineup, which continues to stack young, talented players both in the field and the pitching staff.
-
Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Run: 30. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
Track Record: Signed out of Venezuela for $25,000 in 2016, Moreno has ascended to become one of the top catching prospects in the lower levels of the minors. He arrived at the alternate site in Rochester in mid August and quickly impressed some of the veteran players there, posting one of the top offensive performances in his brief stint.
Scouting Report: Moreno jumps out for his athleticism and elite hand-eye coordination. He has excellent control of the barrel and his body, striking out just 11% of the time in 2019. He has incorporated bigger, more athletic movements into his swing since signing to help him drive the ball with more impact, something that started to pop in 2019 and gives him a chance for 15-20 home runs. Moreno is adept at squaring up good velocity, though he still has chase tendencies he’s working to tighten and become more selective on borderline pitches. Moreno has a slightly above-average arm, a quick release and his athleticism is an asset behind the plate, but his blocking and receiving still need improvement.
The Future: Moreno continues to show positive trends with his bat. As long as they continue, he has a chance to develop into an average or better regular behind the plate. -
TRACK RECORD: Moreno had a low profile in Venezuela when the Blue Jays signed him for $25,000 in 2016. He has raised his status considerably over the last two seasons, emerging as one of the better catching prospects in the lower levels of the minors.
SCOUTING REPORT: Moreno's hand-eye coordination is elite. He rarely swings and misses, with a strikeout rate of just 11 percent in 2019. His swing has evolved since signing—he has added bigger, more athletic movements in an effort to drive the ball with more impact—and his athleticism and body awareness help him make adjustments quickly. Moreno isn't that big, but those changes have helped him display more power, with a chance to be a 15-20 home run hitter. Moreno isn't a free-swinger, but he walked in just 6 percent of his plate appearances. He will get himself into trouble when he expands the zone and makes soft contact on pitches he should lay off, though he did a better job in those areas last season. Moreno is athletic and gets rid of the ball quickly to get to an average arm, throwing out 33 percent of runners in 2019, but his blocking and receiving need to improve.
THE FUTURE: Moreno will head to high Class A Dunedin in 2020. He has the upside to develop into an average or possibly better regular behind the plate. -
Track Record: In 2015, the Blue Jays went over their international bonus pool to sign Vladimir Guerrero Jr., rendering them unable to sign anyone for over $300,000 in the 2016 signing period. That left the Blue Jays looking for bargains, and they may have found one in Moreno, who signed for $25,000.
Scouting Report: Moreno has good rhythm and timing at the plate, with a preternatural ability to make contact. With superb hand-eye coordination and some of the best bat control in the organization, Moreno rarely misses when he swings, striking out in just 12 percent of his plate appearances last season. The next step for Moreno is to learn when not to swing, as he's an extremely aggressive hitter who rarely walks, with his bat-to-ball skills getting him in trouble sometimes because he connects for weak contact on pitches he should lay off. Moreno showed more power in 2018, and he has enough power potential for 15-20 home runs in the future. He's an athletic catcher whose blocking and receiving need work, but he exchanges the ball quickly to his average arm, erasing 38 percent of basestealers last year.
The Future: An aggressive, contact-oriented catcher, Moreno is similar to Marlins catcher Tomas Telis.
Minor League Top Prospects
-
One American League scout said Moreno was the best player he saw this year at any level and believed that Moreno would have been the Blue Jays’ regular catcher this season if he had stayed healthy. That’s how impressive the 21-year-old catcher was this season, albeit in a relatively small sample thanks to a thumb fracture suffered on a hit by pitch in late June that cost him nearly the rest of the season until a late cameo with Triple-A Buffalo. Evaluators believe Moreno shows exceptional feel to hit—as evidenced by a .373 batting average helped by six games on the season with three or more hits— but were perhaps more blown away by his skills behind the plate. The Venezuela native is a plus defender, and he put that on full display by throwing out 44% of basestealers this season, showing a near-complete tool set and high upside. “The question isn’t if he’s going to get the big leagues or how good he’s going to be in the big leagues. It’s how many All-Star Games is he going to be in for the next 10 years,” one National League talent evaluator said. -
Despite the fact that Moreno is on the younger end of the spectrum for Midwest League catchers, his maturity both beside the plate and behind it quickly gained him respect around the league. Earning a promotion from Rookie-level Bluefield to Lansing in May, Moreno caught the eye of Lansing manager Dallas McPherson. "(Moreno) is a really, really good looking prospect,” McPherson said. "He handles the bat really well for a young age. He has a really good feel for the strike zone and, again, a very low swing-and-miss rate.” Moreno gains a step above his age group with sensational hand-eye coordination and excellent barrel control. Factoring in his size, Moreno’s hit tool is likely to overshadow his future power projection, but that’s not to say he won’t see double-digit home runs down the road. Behind the plate, Moreno moves well thanks to solid athleticism with good transfer skills. There is work to do with his framing and blocking, but for his age, Moreno is already a step ahead of most. The Blue Jays appear to like his chances to stick behind the plate. -
The Blue Jays were in the penalty in 2016 after exceeding their bonus pool the previous year to sign Vladimir Guerrero Jr., so they couldn't sign anyone for more than $300,000. One of the sleepers they found in 2016 was Moreno, a Venezuelan catcher they signed for just $25,000. Moreno didn't do much damage in his pro debut last year in the Dominican Summer League, but he still caught attention for his athleticism and bat control. In 2018, Moreno delivered far more impact, batting .413/.455/.652 in 101 plate appearances before getting promoted to the Rookie-level Appalachian League. Moreno has an aggressive approach and seldom walks, but he also rarely strikes out because his hand-eye coordination and barrel control is outstanding. He has a knack for finding the sweet spot, making consistent hard contact with enough power potential to hit 15-20 home runs. Moreno is an athletic catcher with an average arm and a quick release, erasing 38 percent of basestealers between the GCL and the Appy League, though he has to improve his blocking and receiving.
Top 100 Rankings
Scouting Reports
-
BA Grade/Risk: 65/Medium
Track Record: The Blue Jays signed Moreno in 2016 for just $25,000 at the age of 16 out of Venezuela. Since then, he has blossomed into one of the top prospects in baseball. Moreno progressed steadily over his first few seasons in the organization, first displaying advanced plate discipline and defense in consecutive seasons in the Dominican Summer League and the Gulf Coast League. He made adjustments to his swing to tap into more power before his 2019 season with Low-A Lansing, and the changes and resulting production helped cement him as one of the top catching prospects in the low minors. He made further adjustments at Double-A New Hampshire in 2021 to produce additional power and was on his way to a banner season before a fractured thumb in late June put him on the injured list for two months. He returned to finish the year at Triple-A Buffalo and further enhanced his standing with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League. Moreno began 2022 at Triple-A Buffalo and continued to impress offensively. He hit .315/.386/.420 over 62 games and made his major league debut on June 11. He hit .315/.356/.377 in 25 games with the Blue Jays and made their American League Wild Card Series roster.
Scouting Report: Always an elite hitter, Moreno continues to make contact at one of the highest rates of any prospect. He possesses superior hand-eye coordination and a discerning eye that he uses to identify spin quickly out of the pitcher's hand. His swing plane has flattened out, and he is naturally comfortable shooting pitches on the outer half of the plate to the opposite field. After showing increased power and more aggressiveness in two-strike counts in previous seasons, Moreno has become a more conservative hitter as he's moved up the ladder. His two-strike swing has become more subdued, leading to an increase in line drives and ground balls and a corresponding decrease in fly balls and exit velocity numbers. His power production has dropped as a result, but he has the bat control, pitch recognition and strength to make adjustments and get to 12-15 home run power in the future. Moreno faces few questions about his ability to stick at catcher as an above-average defender with a plus arm. He is an adept receiver, gets out of the crouch quickly on throws and is a twitchy, fluid mover behind the plate. He's a good blocker and pitch-framer and shows the ability to manage games in the moment.
The Future: Moreno got on-the-job training in MLB in 2022. He made appearances at second base, third base and left field in order to increase his flexibility, but his future is behind the plate. He'll have the opportunity to seize a larger share of the catching duties in 2023 and could be on his way to becoming an all-star.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 70. Power: 45. Speed: 40. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60. -
BA Grade/Risk: 65/Medium
Track Record: The Blue Jays signed Moreno in 2016 for just $25,000 at the age of 16 out of Venezuela. Since then, he has blossomed into one of the top prospects in baseball. Moreno progressed steadily over his first few seasons in the organization, first displaying advanced plate discipline and defense in consecutive seasons in the Dominican Summer League and the Gulf Coast League. He made adjustments to his swing to tap into more power before his 2019 season with Low-A Lansing, and the changes and resulting production helped cement him as one of the top catching prospects in the low minors. He made further adjustments at Double-A New Hampshire in 2021 to produce additional power and was on his way to a banner season before a fractured thumb in late June put him on the injured list for two months. He returned to finish the year at Triple-A Buffalo and further enhanced his standing with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League. Moreno began 2022 at Triple-A Buffalo and continued to impress offensively. He hit .315/.386/.420 over 62 games and made his major league debut on June 11. He hit .315/.356/.377 in 25 games with the Blue Jays and made their American League Wild Card Series roster.
Scouting Report: Always an elite hitter, Moreno continues to make contact at one of the highest rates of any prospect. He possesses superior hand-eye coordination and a discerning eye that he uses to identify spin quickly out of the pitcher's hand. His swing plane has flattened out, and he is naturally comfortable shooting pitches on the outer half of the plate to the opposite field. After showing increased power and more aggressiveness in two-strike counts in previous seasons, Moreno has become a more conservative hitter as he's moved up the ladder. His two-strike swing has become more subdued, leading to an increase in line drives and ground balls and a corresponding decrease in fly balls and exit velocity numbers. His power production has dropped as a result, but he has the bat control, pitch recognition and strength to make adjustments and get to 12-15 home run power in the future. Moreno faces few questions about his ability to stick at catcher as an above-average defender with a plus arm. He is an adept receiver, gets out of the crouch quickly on throws and is a twitchy, fluid mover behind the plate. He's a good blocker and pitch-framer and shows the ability to manage games in the moment.
The Future: Moreno got on-the-job training in MLB in 2022. He made appearances at second base, third base and left field in order to increase his flexibility, but his future is behind the plate. He'll have the opportunity to seize a larger share of the catching duties in 2023 and could be on his way to becoming an all-star.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 70. Power: 45. Speed: 40. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60. -
BA Grade: 65/Medium
Track Record: Moreno had good hand-eye coordination as an amateur, but he was a lower-profile signing out of Venezuela as a 16-year-old in 2016 for $25,000. He made his debut in 2017 in the Dominican Summer League, where he struck out just five times in 135 plate appearances but also had just five extra-base hits. Moreno''s stock rose the following year in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, and swing changes helped him start to tap into more power in 2019 with Low-A Lansing to become one of the game''s better catching prospects in the lower levels. In 2021, everything was clicking for Moreno. He drew glowing reviews from scouts for his well-rounded mix of hitting ability, power, athleticism and defense while crushing Double-A pitching until he missed all of July and August due to a broken right thumb that required surgery before returning in September and playing in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Moreno has an elite combination of quickness, bat speed, hitting actions and excellent contact skills. Difficult to whiff throughout his career, Moreno had just a 15% strikeout rate in 2021. His quick, efficient swing and bat-to-ball ability helps him turn around premium velocity on the inner third and counter pitchers who attack at the top of the zone with a knack for barreling those pitches. Moreno''s swing evolved during his 2019 season in Low-A to incorporate more dynamic, athletic movements, which helped him start to tap into more power at the time. The last two years, Moreno has maintained that swing while getting significantly stronger, with his higher-end exit velocities jumping from the low 100s to the 108 mph area. The result has been a more complete hitter who makes frequent contact, uses the whole field and has at least average power that he gets to in games. Moreno has always been an aggressive hitter, chasing or swinging at borderline pitches too often early in his career—and still often making contact—but he has steadily become more selective and posted a 9% walk rate in 2021. Moreno''s defense has made significant progress over the years as well. His lively athleticism helps him move well behind the plate while his arm improved to a plus tool. That along with a quick release helps him record pop times below 1.9 seconds at times, and he threw out 41% of basestealers in 2021. He also has improved his blocking and receiving, with no passed balls allowed in 29 games behind the plate in 2021. Moreno has caught just 139 regular season games, with little of that time coming at the upper levels, so he''s still learning the finer points of game calling.
The Future: Some scouts believe Moreno has a chance to be a perennial all-star, a potential plus to plus-plus hitter who could hit 20-25 home runs while chipping in above-average defense at a premium position. He should be ready to contribute in Toronto at some point in 2022 and eventually become an impact player in their lineup.
Scouting Grades:
Hit: 70. Power: 50. Speed: 40. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60. -
Track Record: Moreno had good hand-eye coordination as an amateur, but he was a lower-profile signing out of Venezuela as a 16-year-old in 2016 for $25,000. He made his debut in 2017 in the Dominican Summer League, where he struck out just five times in 135 plate appearances but also had just five extra-base hits. Moreno’s stock rose the following year in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, and swing changes helped him tap into more power in 2019 at Low-A Lansing to become one of the game’s better catching prospects in the lower levels. In 2021, everything clicked for Moreno. He drew glowing reviews for his well-rounded mix of hitting ability, power, athleticism and defense while crushing Double-A pitching until he missed all of July and August with a broken right thumb that required surgery. He returned in September and finished the season with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Moreno has an elite combination of hitting actions, bat speed, contact skills and quickness in the batter’s box. He had just a 15% strikeout rate in 2021 and has been difficult to strike out throughout his career. Moreno’s quick, efficient swing and bat-to-ball ability helps him turn around premium velocity on the inner third and counter pitchers who attack at the top of the zone, with a special knack for barreling those pitches. Moreno’s swing evolved in the past to incorporate more dynamic, athletic movements, which helped him tap into more power. The last two years, Moreno has maintained that swing while getting significantly stronger, with his maximum exit velocities jumping from the low 100s to 108 mph. The result has been a more complete hitter who makes frequent contact, uses the whole field and has at least average power that he gets to in games. Moreno has always been an aggressive hitter. He chased or swung at borderline pitches too often early in his career, but he has steadily become more selective and posted a 9% walk rate in 2021. Moreno’s defense has made significant progress over the years, as well. His lively athleticism helps him move well behind the plate and his arm has improved to a plus tool. That arm strength, along with a quick release, helps him record sub-1.9 second pop times to second base. He also has improved his blocking and receiving, with no passed balls allowed in 29 games behind the plate in 2021. Moreno has caught just 139 regular season games, with little of that time coming at the upper levels, so he’s still learning the finer points of game-calling.
The Future: Moreno has a chance to be a perennial all-star as a plus to plus-plus hitter with 20-25 home runs and above-average defense at a premium position. He should be ready to contribute to the Blue Jays at some point in 2022 and eventually become an impact player in their lineup, which continues to stack young, talented players both in the field and the pitching staff.
-
One American League scout said Moreno was the best player he saw this year at any level and believed that Moreno would have been the Blue Jays’ regular catcher this season if he had stayed healthy. That’s how impressive the 21-year-old catcher was this season, albeit in a relatively small sample thanks to a thumb fracture suffered on a hit by pitch in late June that cost him nearly the rest of the season until a late cameo with Triple-A Buffalo. Evaluators believe Moreno shows exceptional feel to hit—as evidenced by a .373 batting average helped by six games on the season with three or more hits— but were perhaps more blown away by his skills behind the plate. The Venezuela native is a plus defender, and he put that on full display by throwing out 44% of basestealers this season, showing a near-complete tool set and high upside. “The question isn’t if he’s going to get the big leagues or how good he’s going to be in the big leagues. It’s how many All-Star Games is he going to be in for the next 10 years,” one National League talent evaluator said. -
Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Run: 30. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
Track Record: Signed out of Venezuela for $25,000 in 2016, Moreno has ascended to become one of the top catching prospects in the lower levels of the minors. He arrived at the alternate site in Rochester in mid August and quickly impressed some of the veteran players there, posting one of the top offensive performances in his brief stint.
Scouting Report: Moreno jumps out for his athleticism and elite hand-eye coordination. He has excellent control of the barrel and his body, striking out just 11% of the time in 2019. He has incorporated bigger, more athletic movements into his swing since signing to help him drive the ball with more impact, something that started to pop in 2019 and gives him a chance for 15-20 home runs. Moreno is adept at squaring up good velocity, though he still has chase tendencies he's working to tighten and become more selective on borderline pitches. Moreno has a slightly above-average arm, a quick release and his athleticism is an asset behind the plate, but his blocking and receiving still need improvement.
The Future: Moreno continues to show positive trends with his bat. As long as they continue, he has a chance to develop into an average or better regular behind the plate. -
Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Run: 30. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
Track Record: Signed out of Venezuela for $25,000 in 2016, Moreno has ascended to become one of the top catching prospects in the lower levels of the minors. He arrived at the alternate site in Rochester in mid August and quickly impressed some of the veteran players there, posting one of the top offensive performances in his brief stint.
Scouting Report: Moreno jumps out for his athleticism and elite hand-eye coordination. He has excellent control of the barrel and his body, striking out just 11% of the time in 2019. He has incorporated bigger, more athletic movements into his swing since signing to help him drive the ball with more impact, something that started to pop in 2019 and gives him a chance for 15-20 home runs. Moreno is adept at squaring up good velocity, though he still has chase tendencies he’s working to tighten and become more selective on borderline pitches. Moreno has a slightly above-average arm, a quick release and his athleticism is an asset behind the plate, but his blocking and receiving still need improvement.
The Future: Moreno continues to show positive trends with his bat. As long as they continue, he has a chance to develop into an average or better regular behind the plate. -
Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Run: 30. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
Track Record: Signed out of Venezuela for $25,000 in 2016, Moreno has ascended to become one of the top catching prospects in the lower levels of the minors. He arrived at the alternate site in Rochester in mid August and quickly impressed some of the veteran players there, posting one of the top offensive performances in his brief stint.
Scouting Report: Moreno jumps out for his athleticism and elite hand-eye coordination. He has excellent control of the barrel and his body, striking out just 11% of the time in 2019. He has incorporated bigger, more athletic movements into his swing since signing to help him drive the ball with more impact, something that started to pop in 2019 and gives him a chance for 15-20 home runs. Moreno is adept at squaring up good velocity, though he still has chase tendencies he’s working to tighten and become more selective on borderline pitches. Moreno has a slightly above-average arm, a quick release and his athleticism is an asset behind the plate, but his blocking and receiving still need improvement.
The Future: Moreno continues to show positive trends with his bat. As long as they continue, he has a chance to develop into an average or better regular behind the plate. -
TRACK RECORD: Moreno had a low profile in Venezuela when the Blue Jays signed him for $25,000 in 2016. He has raised his status considerably over the last two seasons, emerging as one of the better catching prospects in the lower levels of the minors.
SCOUTING REPORT: Moreno’s hand-eye coordination is elite. He rarely swings and misses, with a strikeout rate of just 11 percent in 2019. His swing has evolved since signing—he has added bigger, more athletic movements in an effort to drive the ball with more impact—and his athleticism and body awareness help him make adjustments quickly. Moreno isn’t that big, but those changes have helped him display more power, with a chance to be a 15-20 home run hitter. Moreno isn’t a free-swinger, but he walked in just 6 percent of his plate appearances. He will get himself into trouble when he expands the zone and makes soft contact on pitches he should lay off, though he did a better job in those areas last season. Moreno is athletic and gets rid of the ball quickly to get to an average arm, throwing out 33 percent of runners in 2019, but his blocking and receiving need to improve.
THE FUTURE: Moreno will head to high Class A Dunedin in 2020. He has the upside to develop into an average or possibly better regular behind the plate. -
TRACK RECORD: Moreno had a low profile in Venezuela when the Blue Jays signed him for $25,000 in 2016. He has raised his status considerably over the last two seasons, emerging as one of the better catching prospects in the lower levels of the minors.
SCOUTING REPORT: Moreno's hand-eye coordination is elite. He rarely swings and misses, with a strikeout rate of just 11 percent in 2019. His swing has evolved since signing—he has added bigger, more athletic movements in an effort to drive the ball with more impact—and his athleticism and body awareness help him make adjustments quickly. Moreno isn't that big, but those changes have helped him display more power, with a chance to be a 15-20 home run hitter. Moreno isn't a free-swinger, but he walked in just 6 percent of his plate appearances. He will get himself into trouble when he expands the zone and makes soft contact on pitches he should lay off, though he did a better job in those areas last season. Moreno is athletic and gets rid of the ball quickly to get to an average arm, throwing out 33 percent of runners in 2019, but his blocking and receiving need to improve.
THE FUTURE: Moreno will head to high Class A Dunedin in 2020. He has the upside to develop into an average or possibly better regular behind the plate. -
Despite the fact that Moreno is on the younger end of the spectrum for Midwest League catchers, his maturity both beside the plate and behind it quickly gained him respect around the league. Earning a promotion from Rookie-level Bluefield to Lansing in May, Moreno caught the eye of Lansing manager Dallas McPherson. "(Moreno) is a really, really good looking prospect,” McPherson said. "He handles the bat really well for a young age. He has a really good feel for the strike zone and, again, a very low swing-and-miss rate.” Moreno gains a step above his age group with sensational hand-eye coordination and excellent barrel control. Factoring in his size, Moreno’s hit tool is likely to overshadow his future power projection, but that’s not to say he won’t see double-digit home runs down the road. Behind the plate, Moreno moves well thanks to solid athleticism with good transfer skills. There is work to do with his framing and blocking, but for his age, Moreno is already a step ahead of most. The Blue Jays appear to like his chances to stick behind the plate.
Career Transactions
-
Arizona Diamondbacks placed C Gabriel Moreno on the 10-day injured list. Left shoulder inflammation.
