The Los Angeles Angels selected Tennessee infielder Christian Moore with the No. 8 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft on Sunday. Moore spent three years at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and was a key contributor in their College World Series run in 2024.
Moore is known as a power-hitting second baseman that has both shortstop and center field potential, according to MLB Pipeline. He was stellar in all three seasons he played at Tennessee, holding an OPS above 1.000 in each of his campaigns. But it was his junior year that really stood out and made him a top-10 pick.
The 21-year-old New York native slashed .375/.451/.797 with a 1.248 OPS in his final season at Tennessee. He led NCAA Division I with 111 hits last season and ranked third in home runs with 34. The 34 homers in a single season is a Tennessee school record, as is his career 61 homers.
Moore famously hit for the cycle in the College World Series last month and was widely seen as one of the best hitters in college baseball in 2024. MLB Pipeline ranked him the No. 13 overall prospect in the 2024 class, meaning the Angels made a bit of a reach. But there is a lot to like with Moore.
“Solidly built at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, Moore looks to do damage with an aggressive approach. His mindset, bat speed and strength give him power that plays to all fields and 25-30 homer potential, and he works deep counts in search of pitches to drive and draws a healthy amount of walks. His right-handed swing can get overly long and he still chases too many pitches out of the zone, but he’s making more consistent contact in 2024,” MLB Pipeline writes.
Moore has a 60/80 power grade at the 20-80 scouting scale. But he is a solid prospect across the board with scores of 55 hit and 50 in run, arm and field. It wouldn’t be surprising if Moore shot up to near the top of the Angels top-30 list, but that is largely a feature of a depleted farm system.
Angels’ Caden Dana gives up one earned in Futures Game
The 2024 MLB All-Star Future Games was held on Saturday at Globe Life Field, which saw the National League Futures earn a 6-1 win over the American League Futures.
Representing the Angels was No. 1 prospect and No. 90 overall MLB prospect Caden Dana. Dana was the first pitcher out of the bullpen for the American League after Texas Rangers prospect Emiliano Teodo began the game with two perfect innings.
Dana gave up two hits, including a home run to Cincinnati Reds top-100 prospect Cam Collier. He also struck a batter out in one inning of work.