ESPN: Christian Moore 'could be one of the first players from this draft to reach MLB'
Christian Moore a perfect fit for the Los Angeles Angels with the No. 8 overall pick in the MLB Draft Sunday night, according to ESPN’s David Schoenfield. The organization has a history of drafting college players who can quickly reach the majors.
Moore proved to be just while starring for Tennessee Baseball during his junior season.
“The Angels love to take college players who appear close to the majors and Moore fits that mold,” Schoenfield wrote while analyzing the pick for ESPN.com, “becoming their sixth straight college selection in the first round. The last two of those — Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel — are already in the majors, so if Moore follows their path, he could be one of the first players from this draft to reach MLB.
“He’s limited to second base because of his arm, but his contact rate should allow him to move quickly through the minors.”
Christian Moore was ‘the most prolific slugger in the best lineup in college baseball’
Moore this season led Tennessee to its first national championship after setting program records with 34 home runs, 55 extra-base hits and 236 total bases. He hit .375 with a 1.248 OPS and a .797 slugging percentage. He had 74 RBI, 19 doubles and a team-high 83 runs scored.
ESPN described Moore as “the most prolific slugger in the best lineup in college baseball this year … (helping) the Vols bash their way to the program’s first College World Series title.
“Moore showed off his well-rounded game by becoming the second player in MCWS history to hit for the cycle during Tennessee’s first game in Omaha,” ESPN continued, “and hit .375 with 34 home runs on the season — doubling his home run total from the previous year.”
Moore was the first of two first-round picks for Tennessee Sunday night, with Blake Burke going at No. 34 overall to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Four Vols selected during first two rounds of MLB Draft
Tennessee set a program record with four picks over the first two rounds, with Billy Amick going at No. 60 to the Minnesota Twins and Dylan Dreiling going at No. 65 to the Texas Rangers.
Dreiling was named the most outstanding player in the College World Series after Tennessee beat Texas A&M in the championship series. He finished the season with a team-high 75 RBI. He had a .341 batting average, 1.174 OPS and .715 slugging percentage, hitting 23 home runs with 19 doubles and 72 runs scored.
Amick hit 23 home runs of his own, adding 65 RBI, 14 doubles and 67 runs scored with a .306 average, a 1.070 OPS and .643 slugging percentage. Burke led the Vols in batting average at .379. He had 20 home runs, 30 doubles, 61 RBI and 74 runs scored, with a 1.151 OPS and .702 slugging percentage.
“A potent power hitter in the middle of the lineup for national champion Tennessee,” ESPN wrote, “Burke put up huge numbers for the Vols: .378 batting average, 20 home runs and a 1.151 OPS. He is likely limited to first base professionally, so the bat is going to have to continue to carry him as he progresses through the minors.”
